W19P317

Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Plan

BPLN0057 Urban Design: Guidance, Incentive, and Control Task 2 Group 3 2019/20 Wenjie Bian Madeleine Gohin Fatima Abduljawad Alan Smithies

Table of Contents Introduction �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1 Policy context ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 Site Context �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5 SWOT Analysis �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10 Vision and Objectives ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 12 Policy Overview ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14 Housing and Built Environment �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 16 Local Economy �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 22 Environment �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 24 Energy, Waste and Water ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 28 Movement ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 33 Community Infrastructure ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 35 Site Allocations ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 38 Monitoring and Delivery Timeline ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 41 Conclusion ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 43 References ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 45 Critical Reflection �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 47

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Introduction

1. INTRODUCTION

River Wandle at Hackbridge

Introduction

Hackbridge and Beddington Corner, in the London Borough of Sutton, is a south-eastern suburb of Greater London. The neighbourhood sits between the eastern border of Hackbridge and the River Wandle to the west.

Following in the footsteps of other environmentally sustainable districts around the world, Hackbridge and Beddington Corner’s vision is to become a sustainable eco-suburb which aims to contribute to reducing the collective impact on climate change.

To achieve this vision, this new neighbourhood plan seeks to provide clear guidance, incentives and control for local spatial development over the next ten years (2020-2030; the Plan period). Having been approved in a referendum in March 2020, this plan supersedes the 2018 Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Plan which was adopted in January 2019. Policies within this document have therefore replaced those within the superseded document and should take precedent.

Based on an analysis of the neighbourhoods site context and characteristics, this plan sets out a number of policies, design codes, site allocations and deliverables under six key policy areas in order to provide planning policy clarity for future development. A number of case studies have also identified throughout this document as key exemplar projects which should be used to guide future development.

Vauban in Freiburg, Germany is one of the world’s most celebrated residential eco-neighbourhoods

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Policy context

2. POLICY CONTEXT

Garden allotment in Hackbridge

Policy context Neighbourhood Planning As part of the Localism Act 2011, this neighbourhood plan has created by members of the community. Under Schedule 4B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, this Plan carries legal policy weight within the planning process. It has been prepared with reference to Sutton’s Local Plan (2018), the Intend to Publish London Plan (2019) and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, 2018).

Policy Hierarchy

This plan complies with higher level policy documents and supersedes the 2018 neighbourhood plan.

Hackbridge Corner in 1911 On the 25th March 2020, the Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Plan, hereby known as “the Plan”, was successfully adopted through a majority in a local Referendum. The Plan covers a 10-year period 2020-2030 (‘the Plan period’). Over this period, this Plan will be monitored to ensure the policies it contains successfully deliver against its stated objectives.

Hackbridge Corner in 2020 The intention of this Plan is not to duplicate or repeat higher level policy, but to add value to these existing policies and ensure that new policies, set within this document, are locally distinctive and specific to Hackbridge and Beddington Corner. As such, some of our policies are designed to build on and clarify the Boroughs’ policies, and others to provide more cohesion between them.

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Site Context

3. SITE CONTEXT

Retail shops near Hackbridge Corner

Site Context A gateway to the Wandle Valley Regional Park and to River Wandle

Gateway to the WVRP on Watermeads Lane

The Neighbourhood area of Hackbridge and Beddington Corner is bordered by the River Wandle to the West and located within the Wandle Valley Regional Park, as illustrated on the diagram to the right. Identified since the 1980s as a London growth corridor, the Wandle Valley has seen a multitude of environmental, economic development and community initiatives over the last decades, culminating in the creation of the Wandle Valley Regional Park (WVRP) Trust.

As part of its strategy, the Trust has secured funding and implemented numerous projects to improve the quality of and access to the Wandle Valley green spaces and river.

To raise awareness of and open up access to the Wandle Trail (a 12.5 mile cycling and walking a route highlighting heritage, fauna and flora and which runs through the neighbourhood), the WVRP Trust has created six “Wandle Gateways” across the regional park, i.e. improved physical infrastructure at entrance points to the park and river with a harmonised design palette. One of these gateways is situated within the neighbourhood, on Watermeads Lane between Mill Green and Poulter Park (as shown on the photo to the right), and the creation of more of these gateways within the neighbourhood are foreseen.

Ponds in Beddington Farmland A chalk-stream flowing north from Croydon and Carshalton to join the Thames at Wandsworth, the River Wandle went from being known for its pure water and trout in the 18th century to powering up to 90 water mills during the industrial revolution in the Victorian era, to being officially declared a sewer in the 1960s. Since then, a lot of fruitful work has been put into cleaning it up and restoring its diversity. For Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood, proximity to the river constitutes an invaluable asset, with a potential for residents and visitors’ improved well-being which still remains partially untapped, as significant parts of the neighbourhood’s river banks remain inaccessible or underdeveloped. As the neighbourhood undergoes further regeneration, it is essential that better access to and improvement and protection of the river is secured.

However, this proximity to the river is also responsible for an increased risk of flooding, which covers the majority of the neighbourhood site, as shown on Map 1.1. Future development within the neighbourhood needs to include careful management of this risk.

To the East of the site and also a part of the WVRP, Beddington Farmlands is a classified Site of Importance for Nature Conservation and Metropolitan Open Space and an important area for wildlife currently being restored to become a nature reserve for many habitats after having been used for sewage treatment and disposal for over a century. Together with Beddington Park and Mitcham Common, it forms one of the largest green spaces in south London.

Within the neighbourhood, Hackbridge Community Orchard is a community project initiated by residents of Bedzed to provide a low-maintenance community resource that delivers free healthy food whilst creating a green space for leisure and relaxation for the neighbourhood.

Map 1.1 River Wandle by Watercress Park

The location of the neighbourhood within the Wandle Valley Regional Park and its proximity to River Wandle, the ongoing initiatives of the WVRP Trust and the neighbourhood community’s sensitivity to nature protection and enhancement are all assets that the neighbourhood can integrate into its future development.

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Site Context Transport and movement within the neighbourhood With Hackbridge Station located close to its district centre, Carshalton and Mitcham Junction in proximity to its southern and northern borders, and 2 bus lines, Hackbridge and Beddington Corner neighbourhood area is a well connected neighbourhood with direct links to central London.

However, despite these assets, the neighbourhood has rather low Public Transport Accessibility Levels (PTALs), ranging from 1 to 3 (as shown on Map 2.2). This can partially be explained by the fact that existing bus routes only go through the neighbourhood’s two main roads and do not stop further into its various residential areas. The neighbourhood also has a rather suburban street layout with numerous dead ends and sites isolated from one another, which can also partially explain its low PTALs as it undermines pedestrian and cycling permeability.

With regards to pedestrian permeability, the neighbourhood has three physical boundaries that cross it or frame it vertically from the West to the East: River Wandle, London Road and the train tracks connecting Hackbridge station.

A number of pedestrian access points across these boundaries have been created, as indicated on Map 2.1, but these are not always adequately signposted and their number remains limited.

Map 2.1

In particular, there are only nine pedestrian crossings over London Road within the neighbourhood area, and the majority of these are concentrated on Hackbridge Corner.

It is interesting to note that while having been redeveloped as part of a regeneration programme undertaken in partnership with Bioregional with a strong vision for traffic calming and sustainability principles, the ‘informal’ crossings on Hackbridge Corner have been deemed rather unsuccessful at creating a sense of safety by numerous pedestrians in Hackbridge.

Such design issues need to be taken into account for future development in the neighbourhood.

Informal pedestrian crossings on Hackbridge Corner

Additionally, speed limits within the neighbourhood are currently at 30pmh for most streets (which is also the case for the rest of Sutton).

With regards to cycling permeability, the neighbourhood is currently ‘framed’ by a cycling route which partially follows the Wandle Trail route. This cycling route has the significant advantage of offering an immersion into nature away from traffic. However, its infrastructure is rather poor (with bollards often placed inadequately or insufficient space provided) and lacks adequate signposting. Furthermore, cycling infrastructure within the neighbourhood area itself is rather limited, particularly on London Road.

Heavy traffic at Hackbridge Corner

Map 2.2

Poor cycling infrastructure on London Road

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Site Context Land use in Hackbridge

Saxon House on Hackbridge Corner

Primarily residential, the neighbourhood also comprises a number of remaining light industrial uses and other employment activities, mostly located to the south of the neighbourhood area.

Additionally, Hackbridge Corner, the neighbourhood’s long-standing town centre, includes a number of products and services retailers as well as a few convenience stores and food take-aways, a restaurant, a café and a pub. However, as it currently stands this retail offer lacks attractivity and sustainability.

Located to the west of the neighbourhood, BedZED is a flagship eco-village and first large-scale residential development in the UK to be designed to create zero carbon emissions. The main office of Bioregional, creator of the project and environmental charity with an international reach, is located within this development.

There are a number of schools and nurseries within the neighbourhood, including Hackbridge Primary School, which has recently opened a second site north of BedZED. It is now one of the first UK zero carbon consumption schools. In addition to these schools and nurseries, the presence of several churches, a community centre and a number of allotments also indicates the existence of a lively community within the neighbourhood.

Beddington Water Treatment Works

Map 3.1 Viridor Energy Recovery Facility Although the neighbourhood’s western border is directly adjacent to green space, it also lies in proximity to an industrial zone which includes an energy recovery facility, water treatment works, as well as Beddington Trading Estate.

Hackbridge Primary School New site north of BedZED

Over the last decades, the neighbourhood has experienced major redevelopment work, including the regeneration of the old Felnex Industrial Estate into a residential development (New Mill Quarter). The community has generally been supportive of these redevelopment projects, although some concern was raised with regards to the quality of design and respect of local character for some projects, such as Saxon House on Hackbridge Corner.

Map 3.2

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Site Context The character of Hackbridge Hackbridge and Beddington Corner is an area characterised by its suburban and low-rise form. The majority of the neighbourhood is characterised by two story terraced housing, built in the 1900’s and two to three storey semidetached homes, built in the 1940-50’s. These architectural forms are also complemented by some newer flatted developments built in the 1970’s, 1990’s and the 2010’s. This palimpsest of different low-rise architectural styles is part of what gives Hackbridge and Beddington Corner its feel.

Much of the neighbourhood’s housing is also characterised by its brick facades and access to back gardens. This access to green space is a key contributor to the areas link with nature and the environment.

Built heritage assets

Listed buildings at 40-48 Mill Green Road

There are a number of heritage assets within the local area. One of the most prominent assets is Culvers Lodge, a Victorian lodge house, that is currently derelict and boarded up. This council owned building, built between 1868 and 1895, is the last remaining building of the Culvers Estate. A number of streets at the heart of the neighbourhood is a designated Area of Special Local Character (ASLC). This designation recognises the dominance of a number of terraced streets which have contributed to the architecture style of the area.

Archaeological assets The neighbourhood site is situated within two Archaeological Priority Areas (i.e. zones within which, according to existing information, there is significant known archaeological interest or particular potential for new discoveries):

Terraced houses on Seymore Road

• The Wandle Gravels, across which regular field boundaries have been encountered, which reveals prehistoric land division and provides an insight into contemporary social and territorial organisation; • The Wandle Alluvium, across which early post-glacial remains have been found.

Houses on Orchard Avenue

Map 4.1

Map 4.2

Mullard Close - built in the 1990’s

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SWOT Analysis

4. SWOT ANALYSIS

Wood work sculpture next to Hackbridge Primary School

SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

N Key: Environmentally sustainable BedZED and new school Close to River Wandle/green open spaces

N Key: Car-dominated public realm Lack of access to River Wandle and WVRP

N Key: Two sites left to be developed Create safer and connected cycling/pedestrian network

N Key: High traffic volumes on London Road

N Key:

Flood risk Over development on future sites Potential loss of employment/industrial space High traffic volumes on London Road Loss of suburban character Flood risk Over development on future sites Potential loss of employment/industrial space

N Key:

Numerous allotments/sustainable food growing Lots of schools Close to train station with access to central London Environmentally sustainable BedZED and new school Close to River Wandle/green open spaces Numerous allotments/sustainable food growing

N Key:

Limited signs of environmental sustainability on existing buildings Poor pedestrian experience due to London Road Isolated residential areas due to railway and London Road Car-dominated public realm Underwhelming district centre Lack of access to River Wandle and WVRP Limited signs of environmental sustainability on existing buildings

N Key:

Better access to WVRP and River Wandle Utilise historic buildings in the area Improve the local amenities for the new district centre Two sites left to be developed Create safer and connected cycling/pedestrian network

There Lots areof a number of notable signs of sustainability schools including the famous BedZED, Hackbridge Primary Close to train station with access to central London School’s new extension and the numerous allotments for self-sufficiency. The site also benefits from good educational resources and its location close to the River Wandle and sits between valuable green open spaces and good access to central London by train.

The site is pedestrian currently dominated by vehicles Poor experience due to London Road and causes poor accessibility and permeability for pedestrians Isolated residential areas due to railway and London Road especially on London Road and isolated residential areas. Underwhelming It also lacks access to River Wandle and WVRP. The district centre centre of the neighbourhood site is close to Hackbridge station but somewhat underwhelming.

Two sites close to Hackbridge station have been previously Utilise historic buildings in the area identified as opportunity sites for further development. It is also Improve an opportunity for the to create the local amenities for neighbourhood the new district centre a secure and well-connected network for both cyclists and pedestrians and provide access to WVRP and River Wandle. Historic buildings are valuable and considered to be well-utilised. There is also the opportunity for local amenities in the district centre to be improved.

Better access to WVRP and River Wandle

of suburban With Loss more newcharacter homes coming forward, the neighbourhood is threatened by high volumes of vehicle flows and the possibility of over-development. A loss of employment and industrial space is also threatened as well as the area’s suburban character. The River Wandle runs through the site which equates to a higher flood risk given the growing likelihood of increased rainfall due to climate change.

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Vision and Objectives

5. VISION AND OBJECTIVES

Urban greening on resident balcony space at BedZED

Vision and Objectives This Plan sets out 6 core objectives as shown in the following diagram and 19 sub-objectives which fall under these core objectives.

1. Seek to preserve Hackbridge’s low-rise suburban character and build on the neighbourhood’s sense of place.

2. For both new and existing homes and businesses to be sustainably designed to the highest standard. This includes the vision that more new developments will be designed to low energy Passivhaus standards.

3. Encourage sociability through urban design techniques and improvements to the design of the public realm.

4. To promote Hackbridge and Beddington Corner as a unique district centre at the heart of the Wandle Valley, known for its environmental sustainability specialism.

5. To ensure that new homes serve the needs of the local community and existing residents.

1. To provide sufficient, easy-accessed and sustainable community infrastructure, contribute to local services, and enhance local community identity

1. To protect existing business and retail uses on selected sites 2. To support and encourage the location of green businesses within the neighbourhood

2. To ensure that existing infrastructure is wellpreserved, easy-accessed, and friendly for children and the disabled 3. To provide sufficient social and interactive facilities and spaces to meet the social needs.

4. To conserve heritage assets and enhance the historic knowledge and culture to the public.

1. Improve air quality to safe levels and ultimately reduce the number of pollutionassociated illnesses and deaths.

2. Increase Green Area Factor by 40% over the next 10 years in ways which are specifically beneficial to humans and animals alike.

3. To ensure that existing and new green spaces, including allotments are maintained and protected.

1. To improve pedestrian and cycling permeability across the neighbourhood 2. To minimise the negative impacts of travel on the community and the environment.

1. To minimise flood risk in ways that are efficient and environmentally friendly.

2. To reduce local dependence on the grid and increase the amount of local energy micro-generation.

3. Reduce water use and introduce a water reuse cycle.

4. To reduce waste generated from various industries, with a special focus on construction.

To improve Hackbridge’s social sustainability, our vision is for a neighbourhood that promotes its tight-knit community which feel proud of its heritage and works to preserve it. Our neighbourhood will be inclusive to all ages and family dynamics. It will be a safe place for children to grow up. It will be abundant with connected, well-utilised, bio-diverse green spaces and will act as a gateway to the WVRP. Citizens will have respect for the natural environment. It will have a low flood risk and will create ecosystem services through water efficiency. Our aspiration is for Hackbridge to become a place which encourages its citizens to become more environmentally and socially conscious. We will work together for a communal, green, inclusive, waste-less, supportive sustainable neighbourhood.

Our aspiration is for Hackbridge and Beddington Corner to become an exemplar sustainable suburb. Inspired by some of world’s most celebrated sustainable districts such as Vauban, Freiburg and Hammarby Sjöstad, Stockholm, this Plan aims build upon the sustainability work that has already began to make Hackbridge and Beddington Corner an even more sustainable district.

Our sustainable suburb will be a place for families to put down roots which can adjust to the needs of families over time, and ones which add to the value of the space around them. It will also host a wealth of flexible and welcoming communal spaces which can be used for a wide variety of events to serve the community through generations. Our vision is for sustainable modes of transport, such as walking, cycling and the use of public transport, to become the norm within the neighbourhood. It will also be a permeable, safe, and inviting space for residents to move within. It will be a dynamic and active contributor to the greater economy in progressive industries, and will also have an accessible and vibrant local economy which supports small community businesses particularly in their transformation to progressive industries. In becoming economically sustainable, our aspiration is for Hackbridge to become a place where residents can live and work, where industry and employment are safeguarded for future generations.

Our vision to become an exemplar sustainable suburb is multifaceted which includes not only becoming a neighbourhood that is more environmentally friendly, but also one that is more socially and economically sustainable. In this context, we aspire for greater intergenerational sustainability in which future development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Our view is that this can only be achieved through collective, incremental, and contextual measures. Where site specific understanding is prioritised and where sustainability is understood as being more than just a small number of sustainable interventions.

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Policy Overview

6. POLICY OVERVIEW

The Red Lion pub on Hackbridge Road - A grade II listed building

Policy Overview This Plan contains 19 policies which have been divided into six policy themes. These themes encompass our vision and objectives and seek to provide guidance, incentive and control over future development within the neighbourhood.

Policy H1: Local character and sense of place Policy H2: Sustainable design for sustainable living Policy H3: Designing for sociability Policy H4: Hackbridge as a local and unique district centre Policy H5: Future housing needs for Hackbridge

Policy CI1: Infrastructure Maintenance and Provision

Policy LE1: Protecting industrial and retail uses

Policy CI2: Community and Social Needs

Policy LE2: Promoting environmentally friendly businesses

Policy CI3: Heritage Conservation

N

Legend: Key Interventions Existing Building

Policy M1: Improving pedestrian and cycling permeability

Policy E1: Monitoring and Improving air quality

Policy M2: Minimising the negative impacts of travel

Policy E2: Urban Greening

Proposed New Development

Policy E3: Maintain new and existing green space

Site Allocation

Policy EWW1: Sustainable Urban Drainage

Protected B1 Uses

Policy EWW2: Water efficient Design

Protected Area of Special Character

Policy EWW3: Local energy generation

Protected & Improved Hackbridge Corner Retail Centre

Policy EWW4: Waste management

Refurbished & Protected Locally Listed Building

Farmers’ Market Culvers Lodge Activities Medical Centre Ecology Centre Child Development Centre Edible Bus Stop

Green Corridor

Vulcan House Co-Housing Project

Improved Pedestrian Crossings

Community Message Board

Improved Access to River & WVRP

Improved Hackbridge Green

Pedestrian Garden Bridge 20 Mph Speed Limit

Map 5.1

Sustainability Festival

Protected Grade II Listed Building

Pollinator Pathway

Along with the policies listed above, a masterplan map is detailed to the right hand side. This spatial development map contains many of the key deliverables, site allocations and site specific policies that are set out with this plan. While highlighted here, further guidance on the key deliverables and site allocations can be found in the following sections of this plan.

Red Lion Pub Social Events

District Heating Centre

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Housing and Built Environment Local character and sense of place

Exemplar: Chobham Manor, East London

Sub-objective: Seek to preserve Hackbridge’s low-rise suburban character and build on the neighbourhood’s sense of place.

Rationale: As a result of the site context analysis, the low-rise nature of the neighbourhood has been identified as a key contributor to the neighbourhood sense of place. In general, buildings range from 2 to 6 storeys, most of which are in the form of two/three storey Victorian and Edwardian terraces with small front terraces and larger back gardens. This local character has also been recognised by Sutton’s Local Plan with the designation of a Local Area of Special Character for part of the neighbourhood. It is therefore the vision that new developments complement this character and build on its strengths.

Policy H1: Local character and sense of place All developments shall make a positive contribution to the character of Hackbridge and Beddington Corner. Proposals shall: • Respect the scale, density and appearance of Hackbridge’s suburban character. This includes respecting the Area of Special Local Character (as defined by Sutton Council) and other heritage assets such as Culverts Lodge and Hackbridge Green.

• Adopt street-based urban design principles for new developments that reflect the neighbourhood’s terrace and semi-detached urban form. This includes optimising the proportion of entrances that open onto the street. New development are encouraged to provide private back gardens as well as semi-private front terraces to promote a sense of ownership where properties meet this street.

Where appropriate, development may take the form of low-medium rise mansion blocks.

Phase 1 of Chobham Manor, East London Density: 94 dwellings per hectare

Hackbridge Green Supporting Information: Located in the outer London borough of Sutton, Hackbridge and Beddington Corner is suburban and low rise in nature. Much of the existing built environment is in the form of terraces and semi-detached homes while newer developments such as the New Mill Quarter (redevelopment of the Felnex Industrial Estate) provide a number of low-medium rise flatted buildings as well. While different, these new developments are considered, on the whole, to contribute to the suburban and low-rise nature of the area. However, with considerable pressures on development sites, the suburban character of Hackbridge and Beddington Corner is at risk. Therefore, this policy aims to provide guidance on future development in order to ensure that the character of Hackbridge is positively impacted.

• Optimise building footprints to promote dense but low-rise approaches to designs which have street enclosure height to street width ratio’s of between 1 to 1.3.

Chobham Manor, overlooking the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is a street-based terraced development which utilises a traditional urban grain in a contemporary style. Dwellings have private entrances and front courtyards to add to a sense of safety and security. The top floor is set back to optimise density as well as natural light to street level. The use of different brick colours and shades on the façade provides interest and is of high quality.

Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 28, 30 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy D1, D3 D4, D6 NPPF: Chapter 11 Paragraph 122 & 123, Chapter 12 Paragraph 127, Chapter 16 Paragraph 185

Deliverables

• Adopt design principles which optimise access to natural light. This includes the orientation of buildings and including building setbacks for top floors where suitable to allow more natural light into adjacent properties.

• Refurbishment of Culverts Lodge. This derelict heritage asset is in need of extensive refurbishment.

• Utilise a diversity of brick facades to complement the existing local character.

Typical terrace houses in Hackbridge and Beddington Corner

• Improving Hackbridge Green. As a central location in the district centre, a new town sign, notice board and heritage information is sort after along with a new flower garden.

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Housing and Built Environment Sustainable design for sustainable living

Supporting Information:

Sub-objective: For both new and existing homes and businesses to be sustainably designed to the highest standard. This includes the vision that more new developments will be designed to low energy Passivhaus standards.

According to the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), the built environment contributes to approximately 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint. Research

by Bimhow has found that the construction sector alone contributes to 23% of global air pollution, 40% of drinking water pollution and 50% of landfill waste.

In a separate study, Eurostat has concluded that households represent 27% of EU final energy consumption. It is therefore paramount that both the construction and ongoing energy consumption of buildings are carefully considered. If the UK is to the meet the ambition to become Net Zero, the environmental impact of both these aspects must be reduced. This policy, therefore, aims to the address this ambition.

Rationale: The built environment, in terms of its construction and lifetime consumption, contributes significantly to the UK’s total carbon footprint. If the UK is to meet its targets in reducing its carbon emissions, both new and existing buildings must reduce their impact on the environment. This policy seeks to ensure that buildings within the neighbourhood are build and maintained to be much higher environmental standard.

Policy H2: Sustainable design for sustainable living All developments shall minimise their impact on the environment. Proposals shall: • Optimise the proportion of private dwelling entrances that open out onto the street. Buildings will large, more impersonal, communal entrances are discouraged and should be redesigned to maximise of the number of dwellings with access onto the street.

Exemplar: Brighton Waste House, Brighton

Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 31, 33 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy G5, SI2 SI4, SI7 NPPF: Chapter 14 Paragraph 151 & 152, Chapter 17 Paragraph 204 Exemplar: Goldsmith Street, Norwich

Brighton Waste House - UK’s first permanent ‘carbon negative’ building University building Brighton Waste House is the first permanent ‘carbon negative’ public building in Europe. It is constructed from approximately 90% waste, including surplus material and discarded plastic gathered from the construction industry (bbm architects, 2015).

• Use locally sourced materials within building design made from low impact material such as that from renewable or recycled sources. (low embodied carbon material).

• Use triple glazed windows. This should be prioritised for new developments but also a condition when refurbishing or extending existing properties.

Deliverables

• Provide 5m2 of amenity space per 1 to 2 person dwellings that are specifically designed in a way that allows for opportunities for ‘grow your own’ food allotments.

• Neighbourhood Forum sustainable material partnership procurement programme. This programme intends to partner with local suppliers of sustainable building materials as well as local construction companies that have excess waste materials that can be used in the construction of new developments.

• Optimise urban greening on buildings facades and roofs

• “How to become Passivhaus compliant” workshops. The Neighbourhood Forum are in the process of setting up a number of ‘How to become Passivhaus compliant’ workshops for existing home owners in the area. This will include partnering with specialists in Passivhaus design and be targeted for local residents that would like to make their properties more energy efficient.

Goldsmith Street, Norwich - UK’s largest Passivhaus scheme Density: 83 dwellings per hectare

Rooftop solar panels on an existing property in Hackbridge

Goldsmith Street a new social housing development on Norwich.

Considered to be the most energy-efficient housing ever built in the UK, Goldsmith Street in Norwich is the largest Passivhaus scheme in the UK (mikhailriches, 2019). Built by Norwich City Council, this development of 100 homes won the Sterling Prize in 2019. This energy-efficiency also translates into a 70% reduction in fuel bills for tenants.

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Housing and Built Environment Designing for sociability Sub-objective: Encourage sociability through urban design techniques and improvements to the design of the public realm.

Rationale: As a result of the severance caused by the London Road and railway tracks, Hackbridge and Beddington Corner has a number of areas that feel isolated and cut off from each other. This is likely to impact on the quality of the resident living conditions as well as reduce a sense of community within the neighbourhood. It is therefore important that new development within the neighbourhood aims to reduce this severance and instead promotes a sense of community within its boundaries as well as its relationship with the wider context.

have been shown to have a positive impact on health and wellbeing while aspects such as blank facades and living in large, anonymous feeling, housing blocks have been shown to have a negative impact on wellbeing (Gifford, 2007). Improved public realm (such as increasing the number of benches and pocket parks) has also been shown to improve resident’s wellbeing (CBRE, 2017).

Exemplar: Great Kneighton, Cambridge

Policy H3: Designing for sociability To ensure optimum sociability and wellbeing of residents, new developments shall: • Optimise the proportion of private dwelling entrances that open out onto the street. Buildings will large, more impersonal, communal entrances are discouraged and should be redesigned to maximise of the number of dwellings with access onto the street.

• Where appropriate, new developments should be designed to have back-to-backs and front-to-fronts. By using this urban design principle, new developments should aim to have a high proportion of dwellings with back gardens. New dwelling entrances should face the front of other dwellings. These measures are aimed to promote sociability and a sense of community.

• Include semi-private entrance interfaces at street level such as steps (where appropriate), small front patio’s/porches aimed at establishing dwelling entrances. This aims to maximise residents feeling of safety and encourage passive surveillance.

• Promote sociability through improved public realm. This should include areas that facilitate social mixing and opportunities for social gathering. This could include places which encourage residents to sit and relax through the installation of benches/seating.

Poor public realm - Hackbridge Station car park Developers are encouraged to use the Happy Homes toolkit for building sociability into housing design. This toolkit provides design solutions to promote socialisation and wellbeing in housing design. This can be found at https:// thehappycity.com/resources/happy-homes/.

Deliverables • Edible bus stop. Edible Bus Stop is a London based landscape architecture and design consultancy that specialise in public realm improvements. A new Edible bus stop is desired for Hackbridge and Beddington Corner with funds to be secured.

Great Kneighton, Cambridge Awarded Best House Design at the 2017 Housebuilders Awards Scale: 308 dwellings Awarded Best House Design at the 2017 Housebuilder Awards, Great Kneighton in Cambridge has been designed to the highest sociability standards. The development provides 308 tenure blind homes which aim to optimise levels of sociability.

• Are tenure blind. Both market and affordable housing within new developments shall be purposefully made similar in design so to mask the tenures. This design will encourage social integration and a sense of shared community.

Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 21 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy GG1 NPPF: Chapter 8 Paragraph 91, Chapter 12 Paragraph 127

Supporting Information: Physical characteristics of the built environment can have significant positive or negative impact on people’s wellbeing and sense of community. Good quality housing conditions and greater access to green spaces, for example,

Typical terrace houses in Hackbridge and Beddington Corner

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Housing and Built Environment Hackbridge as a local and unique district centre

Exemplar: High Road Leyton Shop Front Improvement Pilot Project

Sub-objective: To promote Hackbridge and Beddington Corner as a unique district centre at the heart of the Wandle Valley, known for its environmental sustainability specialism.

Rationale: This policy aims to promote Hackbridge and Beddington Corner as a unique district centre at the heart of the Wandle Valley. This includes promoting shops with a local and village feel as well as improving the experience for users in order to encourage more residents to shop locally. As part of this, the vision is to create a local district centre with a specialism in environmental sustainability and local produce.

Policy H4: Hackbridge as a local and unique district centre As the district centre, Beddington Corner forms the focal point for the local community. Therefore, existing and new development within the district centre (the boundary shown in the map below) shall: • Provide opportunities for affordable workspace on-site. These affordable workspaces should prioritise local start-ups and existing local businesses. Businesses with an environmental ethos should be encouraged to apply for these workspaces.

Hackbridge Corner - District Centre Currently the terrace of shops on Hackbridge Corner is underwhelming and underutilised. Improving the pedestrian and shopping experience will assist in creating a positive and distinctive district centre.

• Follow the Hackbridge District Centre design code. This is detailed on the following page.

Supporting Information: High Streets are a significant contributor to social infrastructure within their local areas, providing places and opportunities for people to meet and socialise. High streets are, however, currently facing challenging and uncertain times. This has been partly led automotive industry and increased car ownership, where people often opt to drive to large supermarkets rather than walk to their local high street. It has also been impacted by the rise of internet shopping (Jones & Livingston, 2018). However, the impact on climate change has led to an increased number of residents wanting to shop local.

For this reason, there is improving both the diversity of shops on Hackbridge Corner as well as its athletic appeal will assist in this becoming a reality.

Shop frontages on London Road within the District Centre Deliverables • Hackbridge Townscape Heritage Initiative bid. To assist Hackbridge Corner in becoming a unique and successful district centre, Hackbridge and Beddington Corner NDG is currently bidding for funding from the Townscape Heritage Initiative (funded by the National Lottery). If successful, this will provide grants for shop owners to improve/refurbish their shop fronts on Hackbridge Corner.

• De-cluttering of Hackbridge Corner. Though collaboration with Highways England, a programme of de-cluttering Hackbridge Corner will be commenced. The aim of this project is to remove any unnecessary traffic signs in order to improve the pedestrian experience of this district centre. This will include, unnecessary bollards and signs.

This programme will also include increased urban greening of the pavement as well as the planting of new trees.

Hackbridge Corner District Centre map

High Road Leyton Shop Front Improvement Pilot Project Funded by grant funding from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund This Waltham Forest Council run project worked with stakeholders to refurbish shop fronts in line with the Shop Front Design Supplementary Planning Document (Adopted 2016). Stakeholders included property owners, residents, shop vendors, business owners, the Waltham Forest Business Board, the Leyton Enterprise Forum, London Met Police, Design for London, utility companies and the Leyton Links Project contractors.

Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 6, 17, 18, 30 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy SD6, SD8 NPPF: Chapter 7 Paragraph 85, Chapter 12 Paragraph 127

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Housing and Built Environment Hackbridge District Centre Design Code As the district centre, Beddington Corner forms the focal point for the local community. The following design code applies to all retail frontages within the Hackbridge and Beddington Corner district centre.

This design code covers a number of design features and applies to all existing and new retail units within the centre.

Applicable to all retail units within Hackbridge District Centre Fascias • All fascias should be finished by a neat, well-defined cornice at the top.

• Lettering on fascias should be centred and properly aligned. It should include the shop name and avoid all other writing as this can make the shop front feel cluttered. This promotes both a more attractive street scene and also ensures that each shop front retains its original, balanced, proportions.

• Where a shop occupies several units (such as 164-166 London Road) each should have a separate fascia, linked visually by a common design. One continuous fascia is considered to be too dominant and cuts across the pattern of the terrace.

• Fascias should be made from a durable material and avoid plastic finishing Projecting Signs • These must accord with Hackbridge Corner projecting signs dimensions (30cm by 40cm).

• Only one per shop is normally acceptable. Its position should not obscure others on adjacent shops nor damage architectural details.

It’s ideal place is on the fascia.

Shop front features

Pilasters • Pilasters establish a pattern throughout the Beddington Corner parade of shops, provide a framework within which a shop front can be set and are decorative elements in their own right. They should, therefore, not be removed, damaged or clad.

• Shops on Beddington Corner without pilasters are encouraged to repair or reinstate pilasters and paint them in the original cream colour. The pilaster should be treated as one, coherent feature.

Therefore, neighbours should not clad or paint it in different colours or materials. Where a long unit is being sub-divided, pilasters must be provided between each structural bay.

Windows and Doors • Respect the small scale and vertical (taller than wider) proportions of the premises on Hackbridge Corner by avoiding large and long panes of glass or by removing pilasters and glazing to create a wide open ‘shop’.

• For shops that retain their original doors and windows, these shall be kept and used as a blueprint for other non-original doors. This will help establish continuity in the terrace and contribute positively to the streetscape.

• Avoid mismatches of different styles; bow windows, bottle glass, multi-pane windows that are not in character with Hackbridge’s shop premises.

• Treatments (panelling, reflective or tinted glass, etc.) used to restrict the view into a shop should be kept to the very minimum necessary.

Shop windows should be free from posters, signs and advertisements to avoid a clutters shop front. This will also allow pedestrians improved views into each shop. Numerous stickers and adverts can obscure goods for sale as well as be confusing for shoppers and unattractive to the townscape. Keep to one sign written on the glazing. A street number on the fanlight is useful.

Shutters • Rolling mesh grilles (internal or external) are encouraged over shutters as they offer several advantages. These deter and hinder theft whilst permitting chance observation of intruders or fire. They allow outof-hours window shopping, offer good security but are much more attractive than solid ones (particularly as they are less likely to be defaced by graffiti). Light from within the shop can also penetrate to the street, making the street feel safer and a more desirable place to walk at night. In contrast, solid shutters produce dead, hostile surroundings and attract stickers and graffiti. Expanses of plain metal look particularly bleak and their appearance soon deteriorates.

• In installing rolling mesh grilles, they must be colour-finished in a colour which co-ordinates with the rest of the shopfronts.

Blinds and Canopies • Blinds and canopies are encouraged as they enhance both the shop and Beddington Corner as a whole. Careful consideration should be given to choosing blinds and canopies that suit the style of the frontage. For example, a fully retractable blind, in “canvas look” material, best complements a traditional property like the shops on Beddington Corner.

• Canopies should sit within, not over, pilasters. Therefore, large or long stretches of canopy which overwhelm a building or the street scene should be avoided. A single canopy should not span across more than one structural bay.

Cluttered shop front on Hackbridge Corner

Signs and other street objects • Remove redundant signs. A shop is most easily identified if it has only one or two clear signs. Numerous signs, by competing for attention, confuse and look intrusive. Avoid excessive repetition or putting signs on storeys above the shop.

• Hackbridge and Beddington Corner NDG are working with the Highways Agency to reduce the number of signs on the pavements along Hackbridge Corner. This plan advocates for the removal of a large number of the street notices and other barriers that are currently in place.

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Housing and Built Environment Future housing needs for Hackbridge Sub-objective: To ensure that new homes serve the needs of the local community and existing residents.

Rationale: There is a need for new and affordable homes in the neighbourhood.

It is therefore important that Hackbridge and Beddington Corner address the housing needs for the local community and future generations by providing more homes that cater for the community.

that these homes meet the needs of the local community with respect to both affordability and unit size. According to Sutton Council, there are approximately 1600 households on the council housing waiting list. There is also an acute shortage of larger family homes within the borough has shown by the following graphs.

Policy H5: Future housing needs for Hackbridge Residential developments of 11 units or more shall: • Provide 35% on-site affordable housing, of which 75% should be for social and 25% intermediate housing. This level is compliant with the Sutton Local Plan (2018).

Mill Green Business Park redevelopment Market Housing Need (Sutton Council, 2018)

A number of developments, such as Vulcan House and the Mill Green Business Park, have been converted to housing under Permitted Development. Mill Green Business Park is now currently undergoing an extension.

• Social rented homes shall be delivered a mixture of Social and London Affordable Rented tenures. Intermediate housing shall be delivered

by London Living Rent (LLR) and London Shared Ownership as per Policy H7 in the Intend to Publish London Plan (2019).

• For any applications referable to the Mayor (under the Mayor of London Order 2008), it is strongly encouraged to take the Fast Track Route (Policy H6, Intend to Publish London Plan, 2019) by providing at least the threshold level of affordable housing.

• On public or strategic industrial land, provide 50% of units as affordable (Policy H6, Intend to Publish London Plan, 2019).

• For developments on industrial land shall re-provide the same quantum of floorspace. This can be delivered on site through industrial intensification or co-location (Policy E7, Intend to Publish London Plan, 2019)

Affordable Housing Need (Sutton Council, 2018)

Exemplar: R50 Baugruppen Co-Housing Project, Berlin New Mill Quarter development on the old Felnex Industrial Estate

All developments shall:

Conformity with other relevant policies:

• Provide a minimum of 50% of all dwellings as having 3 or more bedrooms (as per Policy 9 Sutton Local Plan 2018).

Sutton Local Plan: Policy 8, 9, 14 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy H1, H4, H5, H6, H10 NPPF: Chapter 5 Paragraph 61

• Each 1-2 person dwellings shall have a minimum of 5m2 of private amenity space (as per Policy 9, Sutton Local Plan 2018). It is encouraged that this space should be suitable for growing own food and vegetables as well as outdoor planting.

Supporting Information: As a designated Area for Intensification (policy 1) within Sutton’s Local Plan (2018), Hackbridge and Beddington Corner has been allocated for a large number of new homes (c 1,100 dwellings). For this reason, it is central

Deliverables

R50 Baugruppen Co-Housing Project, Berlin The R50 Baugruppen project in Berlin is an architect-led, collectively funded community-based living complex. The ground floor includes a shared space which residents have designed to feel open and welcoming.

• Hackbridge co-housing project. This project involves the remodelling of Vulcan House, an office to housing block, under permitted development. This project, led by the residents within the now housing block, will include improving the buildings public spaces and communal space.

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Local Economy Ensuring economic sustainability Sub-objective: To protect existing business and retail uses on selected sites.

Exemplar: Intensification of industrial use in Munich

Rationale: In a context of ongoing redevelopment and densification of the Neighbourhood area, achieving the plan’s vision of a sustainable suburb relies heavily on the protection of employment space, which is an integral part of the neighbourhood’s sustainable character. The following policy protects existing industrial and retail uses on a number of sites:

Policy LE1: Business and retail uses Existing and future employment space on the following sites shall be retained for B1-Class uses or relocated within the neighbourhood area: Vulcan House, Restmor Way

• Business Forest within New Mill Quarter • Restmor Way within Sutton Trading Estate Existing employment space in Hackbridge Corner Town Centre shall be retained for A1 and A3-Class uses in priority, as well as A2, A4 and A5-Class uses.

Supporting Information: Given the neighbourhood’s context of ongoing regeneration and residential densification, policy LE1 will ensure that existing employment space within the neighbourhood is preserved. Protecting employment use is also necessary to avoid the over-taking of residential use within the neighbourhood, which would result in a ‘dormitory’ type of neighbourhood and would significantly undermine the Forum’s vision for a sustainable suburb in which a maximum number of residents can live, work and have access to a variety of businesses within walking distance.

In line with policy E7 of the Intent to Publish London Plan, the Neighbourhood Forum supports the intensification and/or co-location of light industrial uses as a means to stay in line with policy LE1, where appropriate.

With regards to the protection of A uses, Hackbridge Corner is an established town centre in which a grant of £1.4 million has recently been invested as part of a regeneration programme undertaken in partnership with Bioregional under the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund. In this context, preserving its retail and other commercial uses is all the more relevant to ensure these improvements keep on benefiting the local community and its sustainability in the long run.

Gewerbehof Laim, Munich (Germany) Gewerbehof Laim is one of ten ‘Gewerbehöfe’ built in Munich by the City Council and jointly run with the regional chamber of commerce providing high density accommodation for light industrial uses. With 11,000m2 floorspace and units from 40m2, the building has 4 goods lifts, shared yard space, 1,500m2 loading and marshalling areas to internal access corridors, and 100 parking spaces in the basement.

As pressure for redevelopment increases within the neighbourhood, this type of innovative solution to intensify industrial use on a given site can used as a source of inspiration.

Light industrial unit 3a, Restmor Way Conformity with other relevant policies: - Sutton Local Plan: Policy 1a; 15; 16 - Intent to Publish London Plan: Policy GG2 D; GG5; E2; E4; E7; E9 - NPPF: Paragraph 1; 6; 7

Deliverables • Article 4 Direction. The Neighbourhood Forum will work with Sutton Council to put in place an Article 4 Direction for current permitted development areas in the neighbourhood to ensure the efficiency of policy LE1 and preserve employment space within the neighbourhood.

Existing A1 and A3-Class uses in Hackbridge Corner

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Local Economy Hackbridge as a hub for green economy Sub-objective: To support and encourage the location of green businesses within the neighbourhood.

Rationale: In line with its vision for Hackbridge and Beddington Corner, the Neighbourhood Forum is aspiring to strengthen the identity of the neighbourhood as a place known for its environmentally friendly businesses and environmentally aware local community. This policy incentivises new businesses that correspond to this vision to locate their activities in the neighbourhood: Policy LE2: Promoting green businesses New businesses that can successfully demonstrate that they actively seek to minimise their negative impact and maximise their positive impact on the global and local environment (through the products and/or services they offer are particularly encouraged to locate their activities within the Neighbourhood Area) shall receive strong support from the Neighbourhood Forum.

Exemplar: Green Tourism Business Scheme

Exemplar: Hammersmith BID ‘Parcels not Pollution’

Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) is the national sustainable tourism certification scheme for the UK & Ireland. With over 2400 members, it is the only national certification programme endorsed by National tourism agencies. On its website, the organisation claims to help businesses “get greener, saving them money and making a real difference to the environment”.

Business Improvement Districts (BID) are not-for-profit collectives of local businesses who come together to help improve their immediate area by creating, developing and funding projects that benefit local business and the community. BID projects are funded by a levy paid annually by businesses and proportionally to their size, and as an organised collective they can also secure funding from other sources.

Businesses opting to join Green Tourism are assessed by a qualified grading advisor against a rigorous set of 145 criteria, covering a range of areas, including energy and water efficiency, waste management, purchasing, travel, biodiversity and more. Those businesses that meet the required standard, receive a Bronze, Silver, or Gold award based on their level of achievement. They are regraded once every two years. Members include a wide range of business types, including activity providers, car rental, retail & restaurants/cafés.

For example, Hammersmith BID was recently awarded a £50,000 fund from TfL, which it launched a new zero-emissions freight hub for business deliveries to reduce traffic, ease congestion and improve air quality in the local area. Although this particular project does not necessarily correspond to the needs of Hackbridge’s businesses due to their different nature, this exemplar highlights how a BID can enable the undertaking of specific projects through which local business can have a positive and sustainable impact on the environment.

Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 1a; 15 Intent to Publish London Plan: Policy GG2 D; GG5; E9; SD9 NPPF: Paragraph 1; 6

Supporting Information: Although aspirational, the rationale behind this policy is also based on the fact that Hackbridge and Beddington Corner has already been put ‘on the map’ due to the presence of eco-village ‘Bedzed’ (within which the environmental organisation Bioregional has its main office) within the neighbourhood, as well as the newly built and UK’s first true net zero carbon school ‘Hackbridge Primary School’.

The objective of this policy also strongly resonates with Sutton’s One Planet initiative, which encourages the development of the Green Economy and green businesses (see paragraph 15.4 of Sutton Local Plan page 63).

The Neighbourhood Forum will actively contribute to achieving the objective behind this policy’s rationale by working on implementing the deliverables outlined on this page.

Aside from encouraging local businesses involved in tourism (a relevant sector given the neighbourhood’s location as the ‘gateway of the Wandle Valley Regional Park) to join this scheme, the Neighbourhood Forum will also get inspiration from the criteria used in this scheme when undertaking the proposed deliverables associated with this policy.

Exemplar: We Gather zero waste shop, Peckham Deliverables We Gather is a zero-waste store located in Peckham which sells a wide range of everyday products from food to cleaning products and toiletries - stored in bulk and to be collected with clients’ own reusable containers. Its owners also prioritise the proximity of their products’ sources and furnished their shop with re-purposed seconds.

This exemplar corresponds to the type of business the Neighbourhood Forum would give strong support to.

• Hackbridge Green BID. The Neighbourhood Forum will undertake community engagement and consultation work within the local business community to explore the possibility of setting up a Business Improvement District (BID) within the neighbourhood area, which would focus on delivering the community’s vision for sustainability.

• Discretionary Rate Relief for Green Businesses. Under the Localism Act 2011, councils have the power to give locally determined discretionary discounts on business rates and the opportunity develop its own innovative criteria to support different businesses.

The Neighbourhood Forum will work with Sutton Council to set up and implement a Discretionary Rate Relief within Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood area for businesses in line with policy LE2.

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Environment Monitor outdoor air quality and improve indoor air quality

Deliverables

Sub-objective: Improve air quality to safe levels and ultimately reduce the number of pollution-associated illnesses and deaths.

Rationale: Air quality in Hackbridge and Beddington Corner is relativity good, with quality decreasing slightly around main roads such as the London Road.

Measures such as reducing car use, introducing low emission zones in critical areas, and urban greening, addressed in other policies, must be taken to improve air quality. However, implementation of such measures cannot be completed without appropriate monitoring.

Low air pollution Some air pollution

Policy E1: Monitor outdoor air quality and improve indoor air quality Increased air pollution

All new developments and proposed refurbishments located on main roads where air pollution levels surpass 37 ug/m3 shall implement an appropriate indoor air quality monitoring system and an appropriate filtration system as specified by the “London Clean Air Strategy” guidelines.

Beddington park Primary School

Existing developments are strongly encouraged to follow the same guidelines.

Overall air quality shall be reviewed annually by the neighbourhood forum and appropriate guidance in compliance with policies E2 and M2 will be enforced on relevant areas and authorities.

All schools shall undergo an internal review in light of the “Indoor Air Quality in London’s Schools” report commissioned by the GLA and shall take into account the recommendations set out in the report.

Map of H&BC showing overall good air quality with pollution along main roads

• Hackbridge and Beddington Clean Air Initiative. A program similar to the Barnet and Harrow initiative above working to educate school kids on what air pollution is, what its causes are, and what school children can do to mitigate their personal impact. This will be particularly useful once pedestrianisation and cycling infrastructure is implemented and school children can learn to take non-motorised forms of transport on their own.

Exemplar: Barnet and Harrow Cleaner Air Initiative

An Air Quality Assessment shall be carried for proposals for any kind of industry and built infrastructure (such as new roads or motorised infrastructure) with special focus on impacts on air quality on site. Proposal seen to worsen air quality are not supported.

Supporting Information: Air quality has a large impact on health and wellbeing, particularly of vulnerable communities such as children and the elderly. High levels of pollution are linked to respiratory issues and cancers, coronary heart disease and strokes, “with between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year attributed to long-term exposure” in the UK (GLA, 2020).

Focus is especially paid to schools and playgrounds as “[school-aged] children spend a great deal of time inside school buildings. They are more vulnerable to airborne pollutants than adults not only because of their narrower airways, but also because they generally breathe more air per kilogram of body weight. The exposure of children’s developing lungs to air pollution can result in reduced lung function that persists through to adulthood, increasing susceptibility to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.” (Indoor Air Quality in London’s Schools, pp. 3)

Neighbourhood cycling initiative This is a neighbourhood-level initiative aimed at improving air quality in north London. The achievements of the initiative included working with over 45 schools to educate school children on the impacts of air pollution and safe practice, as well as to teach children alternative methods to get to school to reduce their negative impact on air quality, engaging with 3 local authorities to start monitoring their air quality, and running an antiidling campaign, succeeding in reducing pollution. Through generating membership to an electric car club, planting Nitrous Oxide-Absorbing tree species, and Ivy screens, the borough was also able to significantly reduce their pollution output.

An air pollution monitoring station implemented by Camden Council on a busy road Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 21, 34.e, 36 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy T2, T4, SI 1 NPPF: Chapter 9 paragraphs 103 and 104

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Environment Urban greening Sub-objective: Increase Green Area Factor by 40% over the next 10 years in ways which are specifically beneficial to humans and animals alike.

Rationale: Hackbridge and Beddington Corner lies at the entrance of the Wandle Valley Regional Park, which is an expansive green area abundant with wildlife. The green space, as it exists currently, is fairly disconnected and there is no integration between grey and green. This results in a visually unappealing space for humans and an inaccessible space for animals.

Animals in specific do not have freedom of movement out of the regional park to other green spaces.

Policy E2: Urban Greening Any and all new developments and refurbishments proposed on site shall adhere to the “Urban Greening” design code outlined below. Any new development shall reach the Green Area Factor of 0.5 as proposed by the GLA’s “Urban Greening Factor for London” research report. This score means that half of all outdoor surfaces on any plot shall be green and porous.

unsafe/inaccessible sites. This particularly comes into affect with the green corridor outlined in the design code below • Calming traffic and lessening urban crime through improving perceived safety • Assists in place-making through improving visual amenity and perceived safety • Improves urban physical and mental health by encouraging interaction with nature Pollinator Pathways are a subtype of Urban Greening which contain specific types of greening beneficial to pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, and bats. Pollinators are critical members of any thriving urban ecosystem and provide critical ecosystem services for other species of flora and fauna.

They act as food for many species and help in the formation of wild or spontaneous green areas. They aid in the genetic diversity of flora on a local level, and can provide visual amenity. Their growth is aided by the general greening of neighbourhoods but there are specifications for their flourishing.

Green corridors are a design specification for Urban Greening which aids with wildlife mobility between sites. With increased wildlife mobility comes an increase in numbers in each species and an increase in the number of and diversity in species overall. Animals are also safer without the interruption of cars and humans.

Developments lying on the path showed on Map 5.1 (masterplan map) must adhere to the “Pollinator Pathway” design code outlined below.

Conformity with other relevant policies:

Developments lying on the path showed on Map 5.1 (masterplan map) must adhere to the “Green Corridor” design code outlined below.

Sutton Local Plan: Policy 24, 25, 26, 27 Intend to Publish London Plan: PolicyG5, G6, G7, G9, NPPF: Chapter 15 Paragraph 170

Existing builds are strongly encouraged to follow suit, especially those lying along the “Pollinator Pathway” and “Green Corridor” routes in order to assist with efforts to create a contiguous path.

Exemplar: Pollinator Pathway Project, Seattle

Pollinator Project in Seattle Pollinator Pathway in Seattle, Washington, USA In Seattle, a mile long by 12 foot wide corridor of pollinator friendly gardens has been built in planting strips, runs from 12th to 29th Avenues on Seattle’s Columbia Street. This pathway has linked a small wooded park called “Nora’s Woods” and Seattle University Campus. Furthermore, maintenance and expansion of the pathway is in the hands of students at the university, thus improving environmental literacy.

Deliverables

Exemplar: Hammarby Sjöstad Commun, Sweden

Supporting information: Urban Greening is defined as public landscaping and urban forestry projects that create mutually beneficial relationships between city dwellers and their environments. It is about integrating grey and green and creating a natural and organic urban environment. This primarily consists of majority porous and green surfaces such as green walls, grass, and green roofs, an abundance of local tree species of a wide variety, with specific focus on large shady trees, emphasis on pollinator-attracting greening such as bee friendly flowers and plants, as well as the sectioning and designation of allotments for local use.

This also assists with the Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUD) policy outlined in the next part.

Some benefits of Urban greening: • Combatting noise and air pollution in urban areas • Reducing head island effect and reducing energy use for heating and cooling • Carbon sequestration and offsetting • A form of Sustainable Urban Drainage and stormwater runoff management through porous surfaces • Promotes biodiversity through connecting green areas together allowing easy access and movement of wildlife through previously

Sutton Ecology Center

Urban greening in Hammarby Hammarby Sjöstad Commun Hammarby Sjöstad is an Eco-district in Sweden which has achieved world-class distinction for its levels of sustainability, and especially its urban greening. Despite its high density levels, the site is distinguished by its large number of spacious green courtyards and green roofs. The site also facilitated the growing of micro-farms and small greenhouses. The is especially important as Hammarby is connected to one of the largest “green wedges” in Sweden, the Nacka “wedge”, and such initiatives integrate green spaces together, providing stronger ecosystem services.

• Ecology Centre: This plan proposes creating a small offshoot of the Sutton Ecology Centre (SEC), which is currently located in Carshalton, on our site. This is justified because Hackbridge and Beddington Corner is closer to and more linked with the Wandle Valley Regional Park. In addition, the two centers can work together to cover a larger area. The centre would act as an information point and visitor centre for the area and would provide information on the park and its activities, such as trails and guided tours. Preserving and educating about the biodiversity would also be promoted. Having the centre in Hackbridge would establish the site as a getaway and gatekeeper of the park and would generate jobs for locals and interest in the WVRP by surrounding areas. It would also improve education on biodiversity in the local area, supporting environmental literacy initiatives; Just as the main SEC currently provides educational sessions for local schools, so would Hackrbidge’s Ecology Center.

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Environment Urban Greening design code This code delineates ways in which developments can and should increase their Green Area Factor (GAF). Some methods yield a higher green surface area and thus would help reach targets faster, but emphasis should be placed on diversity between forms of greenery. Therefore, Each property shall form its porous surfaces from at least 3 of the outlined forms of urban greening. Furthermore, properties shall ensure that at least 40% of the vegetation for urban greening is local and belongs to one of the key species outlined in Sutton Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan. Each point provides examples of the interventions that are encouraged:

Urban Greening design code (cont) • Streetside vegetation: This includes hedges, green verges, and green pavements lining smaller or pedestrianised streets.

Urban Greening design code Developments proposed along the “Pollinator Pathway” and “Green Corridor” on map 5.1 (masterplan map on page 15) shall ensure the following design guidelines within their urban greening policy:

• Roadside Vegetation: These include hedges, verges, and green pavements along building facades located on larger roads.

• Urban parks: this includes larger expanses of green that is isolated from any form of build environment and is fully public and built for the purpose of leisure.

• Building envelope: These include common vegetation which grows on surfaces such as roofs, or climber species which can grow vertically on facades, gates, or outdoor walls.

• The area allocated as “Pollinator Pathway” on the site is a contiguous path of green connected to the trail outlined on the diagram on either end.

• The area must be allowed to grow wild and only be maintained to the minimum in cases of encroachment or when it leads to unsafe road or walking conditions. This is for the health of pollinators and to allow them to maintain their own space.

• Log piles or bug hotels must be provided every 100 meters starting at the beginning of the path. Duty to build and maintain the bug hotel lies on the site located 100 meters from the previous bug hotel.

• Care must be taken to plant lavender, borage, dandelions, thistles, brambles, and buttercups, as those plants are most favourable to pollinators.

• Protections must be put in place for bee hives and spaces where butterflies cocoon to ensure they are not disrupted by humans.

Urban Greening design code

• Green courtyards: these include private, semi-private, or semi-public ground-level green space within the boundaries of the site

• Street trees: These are usually placed in conjunction with street side or roadside vegetation but can also be implemented separately.

Large trees providing shade and habitat for various animals are given priority over others.

Developments proposed along the “Pollinator Pathway” and “Green Corridor” on map 5.1 shall ensure that their urban greenery connects to the urban greenery on the path at both points. Animal mobility infrastructure such as animal tunnels under roads, hedges, and permeable fences are heavily encouraged, particularly if the greening must cross through a large road.

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Environment Maintain new and existing green space

Conformity with other relevant policies:

Sub-objective: To ensure that existing and new green spaces, including allotments are maintained and protected.

Sutton Local Plan: Policy 24, 25, 26, 27 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy G1, G2, G3, G4, G6, G8 NPPF: Chapter 15 paragraph 172

Rationale: The neighbourhood enjoys four allotment sites and one community orchard, along with various green pockets. They are, however, under-utilised and there is no community garden scheme to ensure that residents work together to make the most of the space. Green spaces are also under threat of encroachment by development as they are not protected.

Exemplar: Southbourne Green Ring, West Sussex

Exemplar: Sutton Community farming Project

Policy E3: Maintain new and existing green space Public maintenance of green space A community-lead program to manage the “green ring” of footpaths, orchards, and other woodland spaces within the site using the My Community guidelines.

All four allotments on site and the community orchard are designated Local Green Space status. Any new development which entails taking down a tree must replace that tree elsewhere on site.

New development shall: • Provide green space and/or allotments on site • Work with the Green Space Maintenance Committee which shall have authority to manage green spaces using CIL funds. The committee shall have the power to allocate funds to community leaders to lead regular maintenance of green sites, and to allocate money to special projects, and to enforce protection of the site. This can be done with the guidance of My Community’s “Community ownership and management of parks and green spaces” guidance document.

• Work with the Community Farming Collective to communally manage the four allotments and orchard space. The collective will have the power to manage the type and amount of produce, the sourcing of materials and resources, and the monetisation and distribution of produce for self-sufficiency.

Volunteers at Sutton Community Farm Sutton Community Farm A community-owned farm project that is self-sufficient and successful and lies in Sutton. It was built in response for demand for high quality, cheap, and local fresh food, and has since become an accessible, democratic, and beneficial community project. They were funded and aided by EcoLocal, a charity focussed on delivering community-oriented sustainability projects.

Supporting Information: Protection of existing green space is vital for the wellbeing of ecosystems and communities, especially those projected to grow. As more developments are proposed and expected to be proposed for the neighbourhood in the foreseeable future, protection of community assets such as existing green space is critical.

Hackbridge green Deliverables

Designating local green space protects green spaces from potentially harmful planning proposals and allows the community to trust that green spaces in their neighbourhood are a long-term investment that every member can and should contribute to. Furthermore, the presence of a communityled maintenance program involves locals directly with care for their green space. It reduces care costs and facilitates green space-enhancing projects like tree planting days or flower gardens.

A blossoming apple tree in Hackbridge’s Community Orchard

Bolstering a localised food system serves many benefits to the local community.

First, local food sources reduce food carbon miles emitted through demand for non-local and non-seasonal produce. This improves the personal carbon footprint of every individual in the community. Second, it provides food security in cases of emergency and provides cheap, healthy local food for the food-insecure members of the community. It also generates jobs around managing the farm and dealing with produce after it is harvested. Finally, it strengthens the sense of community and brings together members of all ages to participate in an activity which is proven to improve health outcomes and increase life expectancy.

A local farmer’s market • Hackbridge and Beddington Community farmer’s market: A small market where produce harvested from the local farms is sold. Produce will be sold plastic-free and not-for-profit to ensure that local produce is affordable to all members of the community. The market can also host various events such as soup kitchens or community summer barbecues. The market will also host a compost collection site and all compost can be used as fertiliser for the farms.

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Energy, Waste and Water Sustainable Urban Drainage system Sub-objective: To minimise flood risk in ways that are efficient and environmentally friendly.

Rationale: Hackbridge and Beddington Corner is at high risk for flooding as shown on map 1.1. With increased rainfall predicted in the near future due to climate change, it is imperative to minimise this floor risk and put measures in place.

Policy EWW1: Sustainable Urban Drainage system Example of SUDs

All new developments and refurbishment proposals shall adhere to the Sustainable Urban Drainage design code outlined below.

Existing developments are highly encouraged to follow the design code to mitigate the risk of flooding on their property.

Supporting information: Sustainable Urban Drainage water systems manages surface water with relation to flood risk, water pollution, biodiversity, and water efficiency.

This is done primarily through keeping rain water local:

A permeable driveway in a residential property

• Transport rainwater to natural contours where it can be kept safely, or even to help it serve a double function (irrigation) • Slow down water runoff and prevent stormwater surges through strategic runoff systems • Allow water to be absorbed into the ground, to evaporate, or to evapo-transpire through vegetation.

This is critical and sustainable because:

Deliverables

Exemplar: Killingworth Surface Water Management Scheme

• The water cycle can be closed and rainwater can be used to benefit communities instead of putting them at risk of flooding, particularly with the onset of climate change.

• SUDs can reduce pollution levels in both surface and ground water as runoff is kept clean • SUDs can encourage natural groundwater/aquifer recharge • SUDs can create a green and pleasant environment • It can act as an attractive space for amphibian or aquatic wildlife Those benefits are unique from more traditional and inorganic flood risk solutions. Interventions are done on a very contextual basis, but primarily consists of majority porous surfaces such as grass and other greenery, loose gravel and pebbles, as well as natural above-ground water flow contours on the surface lined with porous surface leading to larger water sources or used for other purposes such as drip irrigation.

Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 24 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy SI5 NPPF: Chapter 14 paragraph 149

SUDs in a park and a rain garden

Killingworth College and a detention pond Sustainable Urban Drainage system An innovate project using SUDs to manage surface water, improve biodiversity, growth enablement, and educational opportunities. They implemented infiltration basins, detention ponds, two-stage channels, and wetland sites. They were able to reduce property flood risk for over 3500 properties, reduced groundwater pollution, and improved amenity.

• SUDs in public spaces and parks. SUDS systems are not only critical in new developments, but must be implemented on a wider basis throughout the site. Flood risk in the public realm shall be evaluated and appropriate measures in accordance to the design code above will be taken. Rain gardens should be given special favour as they have proven successful already in the centre of H&BC. A rain garden is a small garden full of shrubs, perennials, and flowers built in a natural depression used to soak and hold excess water temporarily. It serves a triple purpose as it acts as a form of urban greening and also performs ecosystem services through hosting insects and pollinators.

Introducing a rain garden to public parks and green spaces would help serve SUDs and other benefits.

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Energy, Waste and Water SUDs Design Code The following design code delineates the various types of surfaces that can be implemented in service of SUDs. Development proposals shall use the guidelines below to show how they will design their SUDs, and sufficiency will be determined on a discretionary individual basis. Proposals with insufficient or inorganic drainage systems will not be supported. Urban greening measures will also be taken into consideration in conjunction and can in some cases compensate for more expensive SUDs interventions.

Each intervention shows a graphical example below.

SUDs Design Code (cont)

SUDs Design Code (cont)

• Swales are shallow, broad and vegetated channels designed to store and/or convey runoff and remove pollutants. They may be used as conveyance structures to pass the runoff to the next stage of the treatment train and can be designed to promote infiltration where soil and groundwater conditions allow.

• Bio-retention basins and areas/rain gardens are small depressions in the ground that can act as infiltration points for roof water and other ‘clean’ surface water.

• Filter Strips are gently sloping, vegetated strips of land that provide opportunities for slow conveyance and infiltration (where appropriate).

• Pervious pavement consisted of two types: Porous surfacing is a surface that infiltrates water across the entire surface. Permeable surfacing is formed of material that is itself impervious to water but, by virtue of voids formed through the surface, allows infiltration through the pattern of voids.

• Infiltration basins are green depressions for storing stormwater runoff on the surface, gradually infiltrating it into the ground.

• Green roofs are designed to intercept and retain precipitation, reducing the volume of runoff and attenuating peak flows • Detention Ponds and basins are surface storage basins or facilities that provide flow control through attenuation of stormwater runoff.

They also facilitate some settling of particulate pollutants.

• Soakaways provide stormwater attenuation, stormwater treatment and groundwater recharge.

• Infiltration trenches are shallow excavations with rubble or stone that create temporary subsurface storage of stormwater runoff, thereby enhancing the natural capacity of the ground to store and drain water.

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Energy, Waste and Water Local energy generation

Exemplar: Local district plant in Hammarby, Sweden

Deliverables

Sub-objective: To reduce local dependence on the grid and increase the amount of local energy micro-generation.

Rationale: Local neighbourhood developments such as BedZED have utilised locally generated micro-energy which is strongly supported. This ensures independence from the national energy grid and promotes renewable energy.

Policy EWW2: Local energy generation Any proposed development or refurbishment project, residential or commercial, with plot coverage size exceeding 1500 m2 or any development exceeding four stories shall utilise at least 40% of their roof space for Solar Photovoltaics to generate energy for the development.

Developments with Combined Heating and Power (CHP) generators may be exempt from this requirement.

Existing developments are heavily encouraged to also implement Solar PVs on their roofs to reduce reliance on the grid.

Beddington Viridor ERF Local energy generation for Nacka Nacka commun, Sweden: Nacka lies in between two Heating Only Boiler plants (forms of energy cogeneration plants). Both plants generate heat for Nacka’s developments (residential, commercial, and industrial) in the wintertime and are adjusted to provide cooling in the summertime.

Supporting information: There are many advantages to reducing dependence on the grid and generating energy on-site. First, with the onset of climate change, it becomes increasingly critical for urban spaces to become more independent and to rely less on national or regional processes to ensure that in cases of emergency, neighbourhoods can survive independently.

• District heating at Viridor: Viridor is a local incineration plant which generates 210GWh of electricity and sells it to the grid. It is located in the borough of Croydon just on the border of Sutton and in close proximity to the site. In collaboration with the Borough of Croydon and Viridor itself, we shall transform the current incineration plant into a district heating CHP plant, continuing to incinerate waste to generate electricity, but electricity will first be provided for local homes, and excess will be sold to the grid, and waste heat generated from the incineration process will be used to heat homes in H&BC and other neighbourhoods in both Croydon and Sutton.

Exemplar: The Blauhaus at Niederrhein University, Germany

Secondly, local generation means that neighbourhoods can determine the source of their energy and can therefore favour renewable sources over coal, gas, or other non-renewable sources.

Finally, local generation can also be more cost-effective than using energy from the grid as solar panels and CHP only utilise a single payment for installation and may require maintenance costs over time, but would overall cost less financially and environmentally than buying energy from the grid.

Furthermore, local generation is not susceptible to changing energy prices which will become especially vulnerable with the onset of climate change.

Excess energy generated by large local developments can also be sold back to the grid for a profit.

In order to transform H&BC’s attitude to energy generation, localised and renewable energy must become the new norm. Solar PVs are a costeffective and well-developed technology and will be a good starting point before applying more stringent requirements such as CHP which will be used to generate all of the energy for sites in the future. This is however not feasible for the next 20 years as the technology is not economically deployable at mass scale. However, the next neighbourhood plan must take this into consideration.

However, properties with the means are heavily encouraged to implement CHP in their plans and will be looked upon favourably by the forum.

Solar PVs on Blackfriar bridge in London

The Blauhaus facade This is an energy efficiency research centre in Mönchengladbach, Germany.

The building has a distinct character made of photovoltaic elements on the entire outer facade which rotate to face the sun. The building also meets Passive House standards and has zero carbon emissions. Finally, it hosts an energy centre containing a zero-carbon “[specialised] highly efficient reversible heat pump system involving an ice storage tank and chiller plant”.

• Solar PVs in public realm: Just as the private realm must become energy self-generating, so must the public realm. Furthermore, council-owned property must set a standard and example for the neighbourhood. Therefore, it is important to carefully determine ways in which the public realm can utilise solar power. Examples of projects can include Solar PVs on the roof of Hackbridge station, community centers, schools, the ecology center, and any development proposed in the deliverables of this plan.

Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 31 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy SI2, SI4 NPPF: Chapter 14 paragraph 149, chapter 14 paragraph 151

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Energy, Waste and Water Water-efficient design

Deliverables

Sub-objective: Reduce clean water use and introduce a water reuse cycle.

Rationale: BedZED, located on site, is an exemplar development when it comes to water use, but remaining properties do not utilise water efficiency technologies.

Policy EWW3: Water-efficient design All proposed developments or refurbishment project shall: • Install water-efficient appliances such as low flush toilets, aerated shower heads and taps, and eco-washing machines. This is to encourage passive water-saving.

• Install visible, accessible water meters that are accessible remotely to encourage active monitoring and management of water use by residents.

• Integrate rain-water harvesting technology on specially designed roofs to collect water to be used as “grey” water for flushing toilets or watering green space.

School campaign for reducing water waste

A rainwater harvesting roof with a collection and filtration barrel

Using the aforementioned measures, any new residential development must meet a limit of 110 litres/person/day.

Existing developments are heavily encouraged to retrofit and improve their water efficiency.

• Water waste campaign: A public awareness campaign run by school children and backed by the Neighbourhood Forum would encourage home owners to make necessary retrofit changes to their homes. Placing school children at the face of the campaign not only teaches them the importance of saving water and gives them leadership opportunities, but also places them at the forefront of the generation facing climate change.

Exemplar: Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel, Texas Supporting information: Water conservation is slowly becoming one of the most critical forms of urban resilience to the effects of climate change. Studies predict longer, more frequent droughts and more acute droughts in future than previously thought. The difference between supply and demand could be significant by the 2040s.

The impacts of an extended drought could result in issues with biodiversity and impacts on urban and rural ecosystems, power shortages, pressure on river flows, disproportionate impacts on the poor and disenfranchised, food shortages as farming and production lag, and social unrest.

The measures above would not only save water, but improve environmental awareness, and is more cost-effective in residential and commercial buildings alike.

The limit of 110 litres/person/day was taken from the Water Efficiency Strategy for the UK which suggests that this upper limit is achievable and reasonable given appropriate changes.

The Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel A hotel in downtown San Antonio, Texas, worked with San Antonio Water System’s WaterSaver program to reduce their water use by 49% and saved $160,000 from 2004 to 2011 by retrofit changes to water-efficient fixtures such as taps, shower heads, urinals, and toilets, as well as some contextual changes such as switching from a water-cooled ice machine to an aircooled ice machine.

A smart water meter which can indicate a leak or excessive water use

Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 33 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy SI5, SI7, SI8, SI9 NPPF: Chapter 14 paragraph 149

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Energy, Waste and Water Waste management

Exemplar: Risby Homes waste sorting facility

Sub-objective: To reduce waste generated in Hackbridge and Beddington Corner from various industries, with a special focus on construction.

Rationale: With all of the proposed deliverables and measures outlined in this document, measures must be taken to ensure that minimal waste is generated.

Policy EWW4: Waste management Waste sorting facilities on a construction site

Any proposed development, refurbishment project, or extension, shall submit an outline of waste management during the construction process outlining: • Measures to anticipate exact amounts of material required to prevent overestimation • Plans for storage of materials to avoid damage or theft • Measures to ensure any material that can be purchased in bulk to reduce packaging and transport waste • Proposed synergies between developments to trade potential surplus materials • Measures to reuse temporary materials such as timber hoarding or scaffolding

Conformity with other relevant policies: Waste sorting facility on a Risby Homes construction site Risby Homes construction company: This company made a £13,000 saving by reducing waste through having separate bins for different materials to go to recycling in the demolition process, storing plastic packaging in a dry place and sending it for recycling in one go at the end of construction, repairing pallets for reuse, and finally reusing off cuts to improve the build. The site manager won the National House Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Quality Award for his work on this property to reduce waste.

Sutton Local Plan: Policy 31 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy SI2, SI7, SI8, SI9 NPPF: Chapter 14 paragraph 149

Deliverables

• Measures to reuse or sustainability dispose of any demolished buildings • Plans for recycling all types of potential waste material from construction or demolition Builds which adhere to the sustainable building practice outlined in the Housing and Built Environment section of this report will have to demonstrate the above processes to the highest standards.

Proposals which do not demonstrate satisfactory management of the above processes will not be supported.

Supporting information:

Sewing workshop

The construction industry generates 100 million tonnes annually , accounting a third of all the annual waste in the UK, and a quarter of that waste, 25 million tonnes, is sent directly to landfills. This practice is not only slowly becoming practically unsustainable as we run out of landfill space, but is very costinefficient.

Reducing construction waste is essential, particularly with the projected growth in Hackbridge and with the large number of proposed deliverables in this plan.

Construction waste after demolition

• Repair workshop: In collaboration with the Neighbourhood Forum, skilled locals shall teach repair workshops for various materials, from clothing repair and sowing to furniture repair and basic carpentry. The initiative can be taken to schools and taught to school children and to adults, and special workshops can be hosted during the annual sustainability festival. The workshops will eventually result in reduced household waste and an increase in the lifetime of products. It will also encourage citizens to invest in higher quality products to last a lifetime.

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Movement Hackbridge as a walkable and cyclable neighbourhood

Supporting Information:

Sub-objective: To improve pedestrian and cycling permeability across the neighbourhood.

The railway line to the East, Wandle river to the West and London Road running through the centre of the area (north/south axis - a primary road with little crossing opportunities) currently constitute physical barriers to pedestrian and cyclist East/west movement in and out of the neighbourhood area, reducing opportunities for pedestrian and cycling journeys. It is therefore recommended that all opportunities to mend these current disconnections within the network and improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity are seized.

Rationale: Currently, poor design and numerous disconnections within the walking and cycling network in the neighbourhood area fail to encourage people to walk or cycle. This policy aims to promote walking and cycling as a viable, safe and enjoyable alternative to the private car (in particular for short journeys within the neighbourhood) by providing appropriate requirements and guidance to future development.

Policy M1: Pedestrian and cycling permeability All new developments within the neighbourhood shall maximise the extent to which the area permits and facilitates the movement of pedestrians and cyclists by respecting the following principles: • Connectivity: Development proposals shall connect to existing cycle and walking routes and to key transport, social and green infrastructure assets such as Hackbridge Station, Primary schools, Hackbridge Corner, River Wandle and Wandle Valley Regional Park.

In doing so, proposals shall seek to respond to and reduce barriers to desire lines (i.e. usually the shortest and most direct possible route between 2 points). This includes exploring opportunities for filtered permeability.

• Accessibility and inclusivity: Proposals shall be designed to improve physical accessibility throughout the neighbourhood area and remove existing barriers to mobility and safety, particularly for people with disabilities and older people. The following design measures shall be implemented: - Width of minimum 1.5 meters for one-way footpaths and 2 meters for two- way footpaths to allow wheelchair and buggy access.

- step free access.

- clear distinction between pedestrian only footways and cycle and other vehicular roads.

- provision of seating opportunities along footways for those who need breaks.

• Legibility: Cycle and pedestrian routes shall be made clear and legible to all through the provision of appropriate and attractive directional signage.

Deliverables • TfL Legible London in Hackbridge. The Neighbourhood Forum will work with TfL to replace the current way-finding system in the area with TfL’s “Legible London scheme”. In the scheme’s ‘Yellow Book’, TfL refers to a 2002 study by Research Business International, according to which 66% of travellers would consider walking instead of using public transport, after being shown a walking map.

The neighbourhood area has particularly low PTAL levels (see context map...) and improving pedestrian and cycling permeability across the site will also bring these levels up by facilitating access to existing public transport links.

By promoting accessibility and inclusivity as a key principle to the improvement of pedestrian and cycling permeability across the site, this policy is also in line with the “Accessible London: Achieving an Inclusive Environment SPG” (2014) in which the GLA states that it “expects neighbourhood plans to promote inclusive design”.

In addition to this policy, the Neighbourhood Forum also strongly encourages new developments to respect the GLA’s London Cycling Design Standards as well as the Healthy Streets framework set out in the Mayor’s 2018 Transport Strategy, both of which promote the principles outlined in Policy M1.

Existing developments are also strongly encouraged to implement necessary upgrades with a view to respect the principles stated in policy M1.

Exemplar: Filtered permeability on dead-end street In some cases, filtered permeability - i.e when through car traffic is filtered out can be achieved on previously impermeable dead ends (with barriers such as a fence or a river) which are opened up for cyclists and/or pedestrians (e.g. by building a cycling or pedestrian bridge or removing some fences.

This type of intervention is particularly relevant to the Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Area given its suburban character.

Several exemplars of successful implementations of this principle can be found on Quietway 1 in Southwark (London), such as this cycle path which connects dead-end Rothsay Street with the junction between Law Street and Weston Street:

• Pedestrian crossings on London Road. In collaboration with Highways England and Sutton Council and in line with this plan’s policy CI1 on community infrastructure, the Neighbourhood Forum will work towards improving existing pedestrian crossings and adding more of them at key locations on London Road. Their current sparsity, uneven spread and sometimes poor design reinforces the impermeability of London Road as key physical barrier to pedestrian movement.

• Maintenance and improvement of existing infrastructure: Existing pedestrian and cycling routes shall be maintained and, as far as possible, increased and improved through development. In particular, opportunities to improve access to and along the River Wandle and to the Wandle Valley Regional Park shall be explored and seized, and pedestrian crossings shall be upgraded where possible, particularly on London Road.

Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 35 Intent to Publish London Plan: Policy T1; T2; T3 NPPF: Paragraph 1; 8; 9; 12

Example of a crossing on London Road limiting pedestrian permeability.

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Movement Minimising the negative impacts of travel Sub-objective: To minimise the negative impacts of travel on the community and the environment.

Rationale: In a context of ongoing redevelopment and densification of the Neighbourhood area, achieving the plan’s vision of a sustainable suburb requires a strong strategy for minimising the negative environmental and social impacts of vehicular movement, which is even more likely to increase.

Policy M2: Minimising the negative impacts of travel All new developments of 10 or more dwellings within the Neighbourhood area shall prepare and implement a Green Transport Plan (GTP) that actively seeks to mitigate and reduce the negative environmental impact of travel to and from the development by promoting sustainable modes of transport. Unless inappropriate, GTPs shall include, but are not restricted to: • the provision of minimum one safe and well-designed bicycle parking space per bed-space; • the provision of one car-club parking space for every 20-25 car drivers; • the provision of on-site charging points for electric cars; • demonstration that parking spaces are designed in such a way as to minimise impacts on pedestrian safety and movement.

Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 36; 37 Intent to Publish London Plan: Policy T1; T2; T3; T4 NPPF: Paragraph 1; 9;

As the company Enterprise Car Club is currently active within the Neighbourhood area and has offices on Bedzed premises, collaboration will be facilitated with regards to new developments car-club parking spaces provision. According to TfL, Enterprise “operates one of the newest and cleanest fleets available in the rental sector” (link) Regarding electric vehicles, there are currently no charging points within the Neighbourhood area but Sutton Council is committed to developing a “developing a cleaner, safer and less car-dominated environment” and has installed a number of charging points in central Sutton in partnership with SourceLondon, London’s only citywide network of on-street charge points powered by 100% green energy.

Exemplar: Bike Hangars by Cyclehoop Offering secure off-street parking, Cyclehoop’s Bike Hangars can fit up to six bicycles in at a time and are about the size of half a parking bay. Users wishing to store their bicycle within one of these hangars pay a fee, while Cyclehoop manages and cleans the lockers. This scheme has already been implemented within numerous London Boroughs.

While being in itself a great solution that can be implemented by local authorities, this exemplar can also inform solutions seeked by developers for on-site parking provided as part of new developments.

Exemplar: BedZED’s Green Transport Plan To formalise the commitment to minimising the environmental impact of travel at BedZED, its developers committed to a Green Transport Plan (GTP) as a legal obligation under the planning agreement. Their aim was to achieve a 50% reduction in private fossil-fuel consumption through car use, over ten years.

Aside from the inclusion of infrastructure and design aspects corresponding to those stated in this plan’s policy M1, BedZED’s Green transport Plan includes a number of innovative measures, such as: • Seeking to reduce shopping related travel by encouraging residents to order goods online (at home or through the free community internet facility in the BedZED centre) and to organise regular coordinated deliveries of BedZED orders to reduce delivery miles, with discounts for bulk deliveries.

• Implementing a “home zone” design to keep vehicles to walking speed and give pedestrians priority.

The quality of this Green Transport Plan allowed Sutton Council to a number of parking spaces below the standard parking requirements.

Supporting Information:

Deliverables • 20mph Speed Limit. Currently, the close entirety of the Neighbourhood area has speed limits of 30 mph and so does the rest of Sutton. As evidenced by Government’s 2018 “20mph Research Study” Report, “20mph limits are supported by a majority of residents and drivers”.

In fact, they can actively contribute to creating an environment in which pedestrians and cyclists feel safer. The Neighbourhood Forum will work with Sutton Council to introduce 20mph Speed Limit within the neighbourhood area.

As further outlined as an exemplar below, this policy is inspired by Bedzed ecovillage project, as part of which the first legally binding Green Transport Plan was introduced as a condition of planning permission. The Neighbourhood Forum expects developers to use this exemplar as good practice and guidance when undertaking background studies for new Green Transport Plans within the Neighbourhood area.

This policy is in line with Sutton Council’s SPD on transport assessment, in which it states that the council will be looking for evidence that the developer has taken account of a range of transport and traffic issues, including any impacts on existing transport conditions in the area.

As outlined in Sutton Council’s 2007 SPD on Car Clubs, Sutton has also been involved in the promotion of car clubs since 2000 as part of the EU-funded MOSES project. The 2005 MOSES2 report showed that “between 4 and 10 private cars are replaced for each car club car” (paragraph 4.7 of the SPD).

Charging station for electric vehicles in Bedzed

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Community Infrastructure Infrastructure Maintenance and Provision Sub-objective: To provide sufficient, easy-accessed and sustainable community infrastructure, contribute to local services, and enhance local community identity; To ensure that existing infrastructure is well-preserved, easy-accessed, and friendly for children and the disabled Rationale: Based on the site context analysis, it shows a lack of social facilities especially for children and lacks secure infrastructure around schools, such as pedestrian crosswalk. The new school area on the north of BedZED is the most dangerous area for children due to the high volume and high speed of vehicles on the London Road. There is also a lack of sense of sustainable community.

With the arrival of more than 1000 new homes, it is vital that all new developments are coordinated in terms of any potential impacts on existing infrastructure. New homes will also have shocks and potential threats to local characteristics and culture. The new infrastructure should aim to protect and enhance the identity of local communities.

A list of infrastructures we wish CIL to be spent on: • The infrastructure which enhance the connectivity to the WVRP • Recreation facilities • Infrastructure aiming to provide safer environment • Infrastructure enhance the sustainability Exemplar: 3D Zebra Stripe Crosswalk

Policy CI1: Infrastructure Maintenance and Provision

Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 20, 21 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy S2, S3 S4, S5 NPPF: Chapter 8 Paragraph 91, Chapter 8 Paragraph 92, Chapter 8 Paragraph 93 Deliverables • A new child development centre. A typical children’s creation centre will be built in the new primary school to the north of the BedZED. It will incorporate planted areas where children can plant vegetables and flowers. Natural elements, as well as recycled material in playground design and in play time for children, are used to enhance the awareness of environmental sustainability to children.

All developments shall make a positive contribution to maintain the existing facilities and enhance community infrastructure provision. Proposals shall: • provide sufficient, creative and safe facilities for children and the young, such as playground (appropriate for residential developments); • contribute to local services (including health and well-being service, transport service and education service) and enhancement of local community identity; • have good walking or cycling accessibility to open space and nature, public transport, healthcare service, educational facilities, and other social infrastructure; • enhance environmental sustainability by minimising the use of resources, using environmentally friendly materials and promoting sustainable alternatives to vehicles; GSA Region 10 Gold Greek Child Development Centre

• protect the accessibility to existing infrastructure especially for pedestrians and cyclists and consider the availability for the disabled;

• Garden bridge. The new potential bridge, as an entrance to the Wandle Valley Regional Park, is expected to be a garden bridge, which will be a green and conflict-free connection.

• coordinate with immediate developments and consider the impact on existing infrastructure. For example, new developments should not cause overshadowing and meet the need for artificial light.

• Crosswalks around schools. Creative methods are expected to provide a fun and safe environment for children to go to school. The new crosswalks will be located around each school within the site.

Supporting Information: As what have been set out in NPPF, London Plan and Sutton Plan, facilities that promote healthy lifestyles, such as leisure facilities and open space, are necessary and highly expected. The neighbourhood area contains three primary schools. 23% of residents are under 15 and 69% are16-64 years old according to the 2011 Census. However, there is only one playground in the new residential development Felnex Trading Estate. Providing recreation facilities for children and the young should always bear in mind that all facilities should protect the safe environment, easily available in terms of accessibility and are expected to contribute to stimulate children’s creativity and enhance children’s awareness of protecting the sustainable development of the environment.

• New medical centre. It has been agreed according to Section 106 that a new medical centre will be provided within the New Mill Quarter development. It is also expected to provide minor surgery, blood tests and other health care facilities.

3D Zebra Stripe Crosswalk in Iceland Slows Traffic with Stunning Optical Illusion In Iceland, 3D crosswalks make streets safer and make crossing more fun by slowing traffic. White stripes jumped from the air, making them look like a wall. When on the ground, the bars seem to hover above the ground.

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Community Infrastructure Community and Social Needs

Exemplar: The Uni Project, New York City

Sub-objective: To provide sufficient social and interactive facilities and spaces and meet the social needs

• Open space furniture. Design-led furniture adds more fun to the residents. Residents will enjoy chatting with others and a laid-back life. New furniture will be funded by CIL.

Rationale: It has been pointed out that the site area has an active community and high social needs, which will be increasing with the new homes delivered in the next a few years. However, the neighbourhood area fails to provide enough social infrastructure and public space for interactive activities and lacks a sense of community as well. The policy aims to tackle the issues.

• Red Lion social events. Social events are promoted in the Red Lion pub for the young on weekends.

• Monthly social and sustainable festival. It will be a second-hand item trading market, which promotes interaction between community while saving resources and promoting reuse. Its purpose is to establish a regular communication event for the B&HC community.

Policy CI2: Community and Social Needs A Hackbridge Social and Sustainable Festival will be set up, and it aims to provide a platform for residents to interact freely and regularly. The form of celebration could be diverse. Considering the extensively used churches and community centres, new spaces or buildings shall be provided.

In addition, developments shall: • create an interesting and active streetscape to allow people interact freely • provide a community centre in each residential block • provide interacting space and facilities in open spaces

Deliverables

• Community message board. Funded by CIL, it is used to record and display community related information. Both residents and visitors can leave messages on the message board for interaction. It can provide information and help, or simply share stories.

The Uni Project The Uni Project, a portable reading room that moves around New York City.

It consists of many cubes that can be easily transported and can be set up in various configurations on the street. It is “committed to extending the learning culture beyond schools and libraries and into public spaces” and is known as the “walking learning space”.

• protect the public houses with good street scene and community value, including the Red Lion pub.

Exemplar: The People’s Cinema, Salzburg Supporting Information: The Hackbridge and Beddington Corner currently has two church buildings and two community centres, but they are all intensively used. With the arrival of more than 1000 new homes, the social and interactive needs for the community will increase a lot. New spaces and buildings are highly expected.

A festival for the Hackbridge and Beddington Corner community is a good chance to promote social and interactive activities and in so doing to enhance the community identity and form a local character and culture.

The festival has more than one purpose. It is not only a platform or opportunity to meet the social needs but also an effective way to be aligned with ‘sustainable suburb’.

Local Message Board of Two Sisters Bakery • Opening up river walks. It should provide a safe, clean and quiet river walks along the River Wandle. Facilities such as benches are funded

by CIL and provided for residents to have a rest and interact with others.

The Red Lion pub is a public house that is considered to be of street scene and community value setting out in the Sutton Plan (Policy 22). It is a major part of a particular local character. Events held in the pub could help the community interaction especially for the young.

The People’s Cinema Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 22 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy HC7, S1 NPPF: Chapter 2 Paragraph 8, Chapter 3 Paragraph 32

The project attracts artists who use these vast materials and produce works of art that can realise the dream of moving pictures. The People’s Cinema is a collective phantom in the entire space of the Salzburg Museum of Art. A selection of movies is available to the public at the reception.

36

Community Infrastructure Conservation of our Heritage Sub-objective: To conserve and improve the suburban character and heritage assets and enhance the historic knowledge and culture to the public Rationale: The neighbourhood area has many heritage assets including Beddington Corner Area of Special Local Character, Grade II Listed Buildings, Locally Listed buildings, and Potential Additions to the Local List. The site is also an Archaeological Priority Areas. The current historic awareness is weak both to local residents and developers and visitors. More actions need to be done.

Policy CI3: Conservation of Our Heritage Heritage assets in Hackbridge and Beddington Corner will be conserved and enhanced. Unless exceptional circumstances are shown, it will be prohibited: • to demolish or do harm to a listed building or an unlisted building which positively contributes to the character and appearance of an Area of Special Local Character; • to add elements which do harm to the Area of Special Local Character’s particular character or appearance; and • to affect the remains of archaeological importance guided by the Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service (GLAAS).

All developments shall: • respect the historical characters and integrate into the historic environment; • protect the views of buildings with historic assets (where appropriate); • promote regular events related to historical assets for both residents and visitors (where appropriate); • enhance advertisement for heritage assets, including brochures, flyers, boards and signages (where appropriate); and

Supporting Information: A large amount of the site’s residential built fabric dates from the early 1700s. There are also Victorian buildings, such as the Culvers Lodge which is the last remaining remnant of the Culvers Estate.

However, it has been identified that some of the interesting heritage structures have been lost. Therefore, all the coming forward developments shall fully consider the historical culture and characters and ensure that views from the immediate streets to the heritage buildings, including the Old Red Lion pub, the Culvers Lodge and the BedZED, shall be protected. More design details could be found in Housing and Built Environment Policy 1.

In order to form a strong heritage and cultural identity, more relevant activities are expected and supported. The events could be diverse and attractive.

Families and friends from other places are welcomed to attend and thus know more about the local history. Furthermore, advertisements in different ways are helpful to provide enough information to developers and visitors.

Conformity with other relevant policies: Sutton Local Plan: Policy 30 Intend to Publish London Plan: Policy HC1 NPPF: Chapter 16 Paragraph 184 Deliverables • Signages and boards. Funded by CIL, information about heritage assets are shown near the historic areas and buildings. The signages and boards are expected to be creative and attractive and should respect the characters of those buildings.

• Brochures. Heritage brochures are provided for introduction and guidance for developers and visitors. The project is funded by CIL • History relevant activities in schools. Children will attend regular local history related activities, such as poster making, painting, etc. The activity is cooperated with local schools.

• Regular activities in Culvers Lodge. Residents and visitors can attend the activities in historical buildings and know more about local history.

• attach a heritage impact assessment demonstrating in sufficient detail: – public benefits; –

potential impacts on the historic assets;

–

archaeological evaluation including pre-application advice from the GLAAS;

–

how the potential impacts will be adequately assessed;

–

how it will enhance the heritage assets; and

–

how it will respect the historical characters in terms of building heights, scale, massing, material, design, and etc.

Exemplar: Manx National Heritage, Isle of Man

Manx National Heritage, Isle of Man There are many interesting and high-quality cultural relics and historic sites.

It has researched ways to give visitors a sense of arrival, while also providing information on history and other cultural relics and nearby places. The signage design uses historic crisscross details as part of the signage structure.

The plan also strengthens the Manx National Heritage brand, which unifies sites. Signs range from monolith signs, markers, badges and posters.

Culvers Lodge

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Site Allocations

7. SITE ALLOCATIONS

New homes under construction at the Wandle Valley Trading Estate

Site Allocations Designated Area for Intensification

Sites currently under construction or recently completed:

Rationale: As a designated Area for Intensification within Sutton’s Local Plan (2018), Hackbridge and Beddington Corner has seen a significant number of sites redeveloped for residential use. A number of these have been completed such as Saxon House, The Wave and Suffolk House while a number of almost complete (such as Corbet Close, Felnez Trading Estate and Mill Green Business Park). These sites are responsible for delivering a large proportion of the Plan’s overall target of 1,100 homes while the four remaining sites, detailed within this Plan, have the capacity deliver approximately 250 new homes.

The following table shows the sites that have been recently completed or are currently under-construction. As these sites have progressed significantly past the pre-planning stage, this Plan do not seek to provide additional policy guidance within this document. It is however, significant to note these developments as well as highlight the sites still under construction - The most substantial being the New Mill Quarter development on the Felnex Trading Estate.

This section intends to provide further site-specific guidance on the site allocations above and beyond the policies outlined in the previous section which also apply to these key sites.

4 3 1

2

: Neighbourhood site allocations 1

: Nightingale Close

2

: Hackbridge Station

3

: Land north of Hackbridge Station

4

: Hackbridge Market Square

Nightingale Close Site area: 0.6 hectares

Housing capacity

Status

Saxon House

68

Completed Nov 2012

(The Wave) Hackbridge Road

19

Completed Sept 2012

Felnex Trading Estate

805

Under construction

Suffolk House

15

Completed 2015

Park Road/ Wandle Road

5

Completed 2015

Corbet Close (replacing 72 flats)

90

Under construction

Wandle Valley Trading Estate

124

Under construction

Mill Green Business Park

88

Under construction

Queen’s Head Pub

8

Completed

Sites for redevelopment: Four sites have been allocated for redevelopment within the Plan. Three are allocated for residential led mixed use and one has been allocated for a community market.

Site name

Housing capacity

Status

Nightingale Close

50 (replacement of 16)

Site cleared.

Permission granted but no activity.

Hackbridge Station and car park

31

Site allocation in Sutton Local Plan

Land North of Hackbridge Station

174

Site allocation in Sutton Local Plan

Hackbridge Market

N/A

Scrapyard

Derelict land

Ownership: Council PTAL: Level 2

Site name

Current land use:

Fluvial Flood Risk: Back gardens fronting existing back gardens

s

Zone 2 Route connecting onto the River Wandle path

Children’s playspace and allotments

Context:

Indicative site concept plan

Since the clearance of 16 council homes on this site in 2016, construction has not started and is considered to have stalled. Previously designated for 25 homes with a site density of 41 dwellings per hectare, this is now considered an under optimisation of the site’s capacity. Therefore, the site capacity has now been increased to 50 homes with a site capacity of 82 dwellings per hectare.

Site parameters:

Maximum height: 4 stories Uses: Residential

Indicative housing capacity: 50 dwellings (25 in previous plan)

Social infrastructure: Garden allotment/childrens playspace Deliverables and site specific information: Redevelopment of this site should take the form of a maximum of 4 storeys.

While the site previous capacity of this site has been 25 (within the superseded 2018 neighbourhood plan), it has been deemed appropriate for any future development of this site to provide up to 50 new dwellings. Proposals in a terraced typology around a communal green are strongly encouraged.

This communal green shall include a play space and resident food growing allotments as per policy H2 and E3. Any new development shall also provide a new route to the Wandle River path. This has been illustrated on the indicative site concept map above. On public land, the affordable housing threshold for this site is 50% (as per Policy H5)

39

Site Allocations Hackbridge Station

Land North of Hackbridge Station

Hackbridge Market Square

Site area: 0.3 hectares

Site area: 1.2 hectares

Site area: 0.1 hectares

Current land use:

Car park

Current land use:

Light industry

Current land use:

Scrapyard

Ownership: Private

Ownership: Private

Ownership: London Lawn Turf Co.

PTAL: Level 3

PTAL: Level 3

PTAL: Level 2

Fluvial Flood Risk:

Zone 1

‘urban green’ public realm improvements

Fluvial Flood Risk:

Zone 1

Back gardens facing existing back gardens

Zone 1 New route through the site from London Road

Market stalls

Permeable surface strongly encouraged

Suggested entrance to basement parking

Allotments to allow residents to grow own food

Suggested edible bus-stop location Context:

Fluvial Flood Risk:

Improved permeability through site

Cafe and enclosed cycle parking

Indicative site concept plan

As the key entry point for commuters into and out of Central London, a development on this site provides the opportunity for the activation of the space directly adjacent to the train station building. For this reason, any redevelopment of this site shall include a public square at the station entrance. This space should be a pedestrian focused square with areas of greenery and the option for a water feature.

Site parameters:

Maximum height: 4 stories (with one storey setback) Uses: Residential with ground floor retail

Indicative housing capacity: 31 dwellings

Social infrastructure: Provision of a new station square Deliverables and site specific information: A minimum of 30 car parking spaces shall be re-provided on site for train station users. This shall include 10 blue badge of which three spaces are required to be allocated for residents. Due to its district centre location, parking spaces for residents (other than the 3 blue badge parking spaces) is strongly discouraged. Surface parking should be explored for the 30 train-user car parking spaces. However, basement parking is preferred. If basement parking is provided, development may, in exceptional circumstances be permitted to exceed the maximum building heights of 4 storeys and be extended to a maximum of 6 stories (including a top storey setback).

Context:

Indicative site concept plan

Light industrial uses are currently operational on site. However, due to the sites proximity to the district centre, housing is deemed as a more appropriate use.

Site parameters:

Maximum height: 7 stories (with one storey setback) Uses: Residentially led mixed use

Indicative housing capacity: 174 dwellings

Social infrastructure: New garden allotments Deliverables and site specific information: This site provides the opportunity for the development of up to 174 new dwellings. Buildings shall be a maximum of 7 stories with a top story setback.

Due to the site’s close proximity to the low-rise terraces on London Road, development heights should step down in height towards London Road and have a minimum and maximum height parameter of 5-7 stories next to the railway line.

As a key employment/industrial site within Hackbridge, any re-development of this site shall include the re-provision of employment space. Industrial intensification is not considered appropriate for this residentially led redevelopment. However, co-location (under policy E7, Intend to Publish London Plan, 2019) should be explored to co-locate to Restmor Way Industrial Estate. Uses on this site, are encouraged to intensify employment floorspace within this Industrial Estate.

Context:

Indicative site concept plan

This site is currently owned and occupied by a company that produces garden turf. Due to relocate to Restmor Way Industrial Estate, this provide the opportunity for redevelopment of the site. Due to its proximity to the centre of Hackbridge and Beddington Corner, it is desired that the site is used for community uses.

Site parameters:

Maximum height: 3m moveable market stalls Uses: Community market and public square

Indicative housing capacity: N/A

Social infrastructure: Community market Deliverables and site specific information: In the short term, a meanwhile use is being sought after. This should be in the form of a community market square which, it is suggested, is to focus on local foods/produce as well as stalls selling recycled materials, clothes and other household goods. The ambition is for a market which specialises in environmentally sustainable produce and the circular economy. Any redevelopment of this site into a market square, should include a permeable surface to help reduce rainwater runoff. Area’s for sitting as well as community planting should be encouraged as well as the installation of art work throughout the square to create a welcoming space. A route through from London Road to Elm Road should also be secured. It is the ambition that this site becomes a permanent public square for the community. Therefore, any developer is recommended to communicate and work with the NDG.

40

Monitoring and Delivery Timeline

8. MONITORING AND DELIVERY TIMELINE

Solar panels on the All Saints Community Centre

Monitoring and Delivery Timeline Deliverables

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Community message board Crosswalks around schools

Deliverables This plan sets out 31 deliverables within the six policy themes. The implementation and delivery of these will be achieved through a combination of local community, local authority and private investment funding. New developments are expected to contribute to these through section 106 and CIL agreements. The four allocated sites for redevelopment will also be expected to contribute the site specific deliverables contained within the site allocation section.

Edible bus stop TfL Legible London in Hackbridge Article 4 Direction Discretionary Rate Relief for Green Businesses Urban Farm governance Open space furniture Neighbourhood Forum sustainable material partnership procurement programme History relevant activities in schools Red Lion social events

every weekend

Brochures Signages and boards Hackbridge Green BID

Delivery Timeline The Gantt Chart to the right shows the start date and duration of the implementation of each deliverable involved in this Neighbourhood Plan over the next ten years. The unit is quarter (Q). These deliverable projects will be funded by S106 agreements and CIL.

Hackbridge Townscape Heritage Initiative bid Monthly social and sustainable festival

every 2 months

Repair workshops District heating at Viridor “How to become Passivhaus compliant” Improving Hackbridge Green “How to become Passivhaus compliant” workshops Rain Garden New medical centre

Monitoring of the Plan The effectiveness of this neighbourhood plan shall be monitored on an annual basis through the ‘Annual Monitoring Report’ (AMR) produced by the London borough of Sutton with assistance from the Hackbridge and Beddington Corner NDG. More details can be found on the website www.sutton.gov.uk/amr. The deliverables in this document will be influenced by further policies and will be monitored and updated annually according to specific circumstances.

Water waste campaign A new child development centre RefurbishmentClean of Culverts Lodge air initiative Refurbishment of Culverts Lodge Opening up up river river walks walks Opening Regular activities in Culvers Lodge

every month

Pedestrian crossings on London Road Community farmer's market Hackbridge co-housing project Garden bridge Ecology Centre SUDs in public spaces and parks 20mph Speed Limit Decluttering of Hackbridge Corner Sustainability visualisation project Solar PVs in the public realm

42

Conclusion

9. CONCLUSION

Storm-water management system in Hammarby Sjรถstad, Sweden

Conclusion This plan sets out to turn Hackbridge into an exemplar sustainable suburb through a series of collective, incremental and contextual measures which are to be implemented over the next 10 years. With environmental, social and economic sustainability at its heart, this plan’s vision translates into six core objectives addressing the multifaceted aspects of development: housing and built environment; local economy; environment; energy, waste and water; community infrastructure. Choosing to address the vision with a set of core objectives, which are themselves trickling down into a series of sub-objectives is directly inspired from award-winning Camley Street Neighbourhood Plan.

Seeking to achieve this vision and its related objectives through a neighbourhood plan seemed particularly appropriate given the Forum’s particular approach to sustainability, one relying on collective action, bottom-up initiative and contextual specificities. In fact, the essence of a neighbourhood plan is to enable local communities to influence the planning of the area in which they live and work. It is a tool giving communities the possibility to ensure development fits their needs, those of their environment and of their economy and is therefore as sustainable as possible.

The tools set out in this document aim to achieve its vision by making the most of neighbourhood plans’ potential as statutory planning documents and working around their limits by combining control, guidance and incentive. Tools of guidance and control include a series of site allocations through which the plan controls the specific use(s), building height and set of infrastructure to be provided as part of the redevelopment of a number of sites and provides guidance on how this is to be achieved. In developing this tool, the Forum used Thame Neighbourhood Plan as best practice given its pioneering role in using site allocations within this type of statutory document.

A majority of policies also constrain future development to respect specific criteria regarding the way they contribute to and affect the local environment, society and economy, with a view to ensuring the sustainability of their impact. These criteria are formulated in different ways depending on the objective at hand. This includes principles to be followed (such as in policy M1 seeking to improve the overall cycling and pedestrian permeability of the neighbourhood), specific assets and/or uses to be protected (such as in policy CI3 on the conservation of heritage), as well as design codes to be applied (i.e. the “District Centre Design Code” associated with policy H4, the “Urban Greening Design Code” associated with policy E2 and the “SUDs Design Code” associated with policy EWW1). This is in line with the most recent NPPF and London Plan, which are both advocating for and encouraging the use of design codes.

Guidance was also used extensively within this plan to achieve its overarching vision, including through a number of exemplars supporting each of its tools.

Used to illustrate and clarify ways in which this plan’s objectives can be implemented, these exemplars are thought of as sources of inspiration that can be adapted to the local specificities of the neighbourhood.

Working to achieve the Neighbourhood Forum’s vision highlighted one of the main limits of a neighbourhood plan as a statutory document with the planning system: as a development plan, this document is mainly geared towards influencing development proposals for future development. However, most sites up for redevelopment within Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Area have already been subject to redevelopment. With a vision for sustainability relying on working with what exists rather than building from scratch, this plan uses incentivisation to work around these limitations.

For example, the Hackbridge Station site allocation makes use of incentive

by stating that if an underground park car is achieved, a higher density of housing was advocated. Directed at businesses, policy LE2 encourages green businesses to locate within the neighbourhood area by clarifying the Neighbourhood Forum’s support for this type of business. Throughout the document, existing developments are also encouraged to undertake necessary improvements to respects the criteria set out in this plan’s policies for future developments.

But beyond the extent to which policies can shape future and existing development, this plan has also identified and sought to make the most of the Neighbourhood Forum’s potential for action as a driving force within the community. In fact, the plan includes a number of deliverables that the Forum will lead on and supervise, ranging from infrastructure improvements (such as improved pedestrian crossings), to local initiatives (such as the Sustainability Festival), to making use of a variety of available tools (such as Initiative Bid, Article 4 Direction and Discretionary Rate Relief). By introducing these deliverables and setting out their implementation over the next 10 years, this Neighbourhood Plan makes the most of the Localism Act as it identifies contextually adapted projects that will directly contribute to achieving the community’s vision and gives the community an opportunity to work together with relevant partners (such as their local authority, local businesses, TfL, etc.) to shape the future of their local environment, society and economy according to their vision and in line with higher statutory documents.

River Wandle

These deliverables vary in scale, scope, nature of required partners and complexity of implementation, but they all complement the plan’s policies and will considerably contribute to achieving its vision and objectives by improving both existing and future development within the neighbourhood.

Additionally, as for all policy tools and corresponding objectives included in this plan, these deliverables are based on the specificities of the neighbourhood’s environmental, social and economic context and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that they represent.

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it” - Robert Swan -

Hackbridge 2012 Christmas Event

44

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Critical Reflection

Achieving the completion of this neighbourhood plan has been due to a combination of close group working and individual contributions from all group members. At the start of this group project, our group met to discuss the prioritisation of work and decided it was important for us all to reflect on what we had learnt from task 1. As each of us were responsible for different policy sections in the initial task, we decided as a group that we would each lead a different policy theme, which related to the policy sections that we had analysed in task 1. These were as follows: Madeleine led the movement and local economy policy sections; Fatma led the environment and energy, waste and water sections; Jennia led the community infrastructure section and Alan led the housing/built environment and site allocations sections.

We found this particularly useful as we were able to take what we had each learnt from task 1 and start to apply it within task 2. We decided to allocate ourselves a week to reflect on these policy areas and start to form some ideas for our objectives and vision for new policy areas and themes.

This also included whether any new policy areas were needed and what aspects we wanted to build upon or deviate from. Throughout that week, we communicated between each other which helped resolve any issues that we were having.

At this stage we also set ourselves the task to individually think about the type of document we hoped to achieve. We found communicating through our WhatsApp group that we had set up during task 1 particularly useful.

We decided that a neighbourhood plan was the most appropriate policy document as it provided the policy tools we desired for the area that we were working on. We worked together to agree an in-design template, colour scheme and report format for the Plan. This proved useful as we feel it saved time at the end of the project, when compiling all our individual sections.

The following week, we had a joint meeting to discuss our thoughts, findings and vision for this new plan as a whole. As a result of this meeting, we were able to form a consensus for the type of document we wanted to move forward with. This meeting also gave us the opportunity to have an in-depth discussion on the types of objectives and policies that we would like the new policy document to have. We also agreed to use Google Drive to save our

work on. This was particularly beneficial as we were able to view, comment, and collaborate on each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work.

Throughout the ensuing week, we found that communicating between each other was particularly valuable as we were able to resolve a number of different ideas and views and come to an agreement on how to move forward with our ideas and common vision. We also used this time to delegate out a number of different tasks which we had decided were necessary for the project. This included starting work on the site context analysis, SWOT analysis, vision and objectives and monitoring and delivery sections for our neighbourhood plan. We found this delegation of work particularly useful as we were able to start working on the different sections of the project, using the vision and objectives that we had started to formulate. It allowed for individual group members to work at their own pace with the clarity of what work needed to be completed. In addition, we decided to agree on a number of deadlines for which we hoped to draft a number of our areas that we were responsible for.

During the week after, however, there were a number of challenges that we had to overcome. Firstly, one of our group members became unwell as did a member of their close family. This led to us firstly ensuring that this member was content with their workload (which they were) and then revisiting the deadlines we had set for ourselves. Later that week, due to the threat of coronavirus, the government issued guidance on social distancing. While, at this stage the government guidance was only advisory, we did decide that we would prefer not to meet in person but conduct our meeting over Skype.

While this took a bit of getting used to, we found it particularly effective. We were able to share the progress we had each made by sharing our computer screens. This gave us the opportunity to feedback on and contribute to each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work and cover areas of our project that we felt needed to be amended or focused on.

As the threat of coronavirus became more apparent, our working habits were forced to change. This included moving from working regularly in the university computer rooms and tutorial rooms to working at home. This

meant that we had to become used to working from our laptops and home computers rather than the university computers. Fortunately, all members of the group had the adequate software downloaded onto our computers.

Nevertheless, working remotely did make communicating between each other more challenging and did lead to us revising the deadlines we had set for ourselves as a number of tasks took longer than anticipated.

During one of our group meetings over Skype, we decided to compile the work we had so far to help us focus on what tasks were still outstanding. This proved to be a useful exercise as we were able to assess as a group what amendments needed to be made and what work was still outstanding. This also gave us the opportunity to re-assess our vision and objectives. Following this draft of our work so far, we delegated the outstanding work evenly to group members and set deadlines that all members agreed upon.

Following the deadline that we set ourselves, we put together a revised report.

On reflection, the use of Google Drive and our pre-set in-design templates did make it much easier to compile the report. It also helped to reduce the burden for the person who compiled the individual sections into one report as they were able to easily copy and paste the sections into one master indesign file.

One of the last group tasks that we set ourselves was for each one of us to proofread the report. This exercise led to a number of changes that were made as well as some formatting inconsistencies to be corrected. After these amendments were made and all group members were satisfied, we completed our report.

Overall, while there were a number of challenges that we faced during the group project, we feel that we were able to overcome these difficulties to produce a report that we are all pleased with. Collectively, we also feel that we have learnt a lot about group working and our own individual strengths and unique contributions.

Madeleine, Fatma, Jennia and Alan

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